Brewers score 8-2 win as Bauers sits with broken toe
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers missed Tuesday's win after fouling a ball off his right big toe Monday. Imaging suggests the fracture is likely old, so he is day to day as the Brewers score an 8-2 win without their home-run leader.
Key Takeaways
- Bauers left Monday's 3-0 loss to the Giants after fouling a pitch off his right big toe.
- X-rays showed a fracture line; MRI and CT scans Tuesday pointed to an older injury.
- He was not in the lineup for Milwaukee's 8-2 win Tuesday in San Francisco.
- Manager Pat Murphy said Bauers will not be out long term and could pinch-hit soon.
- Bauers leads the Brewers with 18 home runs and ranks second with 60 RBIs.
Why did Jake Bauers miss Tuesday's Brewers game?
Bauers was hurt in the fifth inning of Monday's 3-0 defeat at Oracle Park when he fouled a 3-2 splitter from Giants pitcher Tyler Mahle off his right foot. He still grounded out on the next pitch, but he trotted gingerly down the line and later left the game.
Luis Lara replaced him in right field in the seventh. According to ESPN, Bauers was not in the lineup Tuesday as Milwaukee bounced back.
How serious is Bauers' fractured toe?
An initial X-ray revealed a fracture line in the right big toe. Follow-up MRI and CT scans Tuesday led doctors to conclude the break was probably already there from a previous foul ball, not a brand-new fracture from Monday night.
"Right now it's just swelling and a little bit of pain. Gonna be fine," Bauers told reporters. The 30-year-old said that even a new break would likely have meant pain management rather than an injured-list stint, and that an older fracture is the better of the two options.
He was walking the clubhouse in sandals rather than a boot and said cold weather Monday had not helped the toe settle. For more injury and roster context across sports and emerging analysis tools, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage hub.
When could Bauers return to the Brewers lineup?
Milwaukee has not set a firm timetable. Manager Pat Murphy said Bauers is not expected to miss significant time and might be available to pinch-hit Tuesday or play Wednesday, depending on swelling.
"He's not going to be out long term," Murphy said. "We're very fortunate." Bauers planned to work with the medical staff on bracing or protection so he can manage pain once the swelling drops.
How has Bauers shaped the Brewers scoreboard this season?
Through 97 games entering Tuesday, Bauers was hitting .265/.370/.486 with an .856 OPS. He leads Milwaukee with 18 homers and ranks second with 60 RBIs while starting regularly at first base and also seeing time in both corner outfield spots.
That production explains why the day-to-day label matters: the Brewers can still score in bunches, as they did in Tuesday's 8-2 win, but they prefer their most versatile power bat healthy and available.