Brewers Adapt Offense With Key Hitters Sidelined

Milwaukee squad finding creative ways to manufacture runs amid injuries to top sluggers.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:06pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game broken down into overlapping planes of green, white, and red, conceptually representing the Brewers' adaptable offensive approach.The Brewers' creative offense has kept them competitive despite missing some of their biggest bats.Today in Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Brewers have had to get creative with their offense as they wait for several of their top hitters to return from injuries. Despite missing key power bats, the team has found ways to manufacture runs and remain competitive in the NL Central division.

Why it matters

The Brewers' ability to adapt their offensive approach while dealing with multiple injuries to star players could be the difference between making the playoffs or falling short in a tight NL Central race.

The details

With sluggers Christian Yelich and Keston Hiura currently sidelined, the Brewers have had to rely more on small ball tactics like bunts, stolen bases, and timely hitting to generate runs. Manager Craig Counsell has emphasized fundamentals and situational hitting to keep the offense afloat.

  • Christian Yelich has been out since April 5 with a strained oblique.
  • Keston Hiura suffered a hamstring injury on April 10 and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

The players

Christian Yelich

All-Star outfielder and one of the Brewers' top power hitters, currently out with a strained oblique.

Keston Hiura

Young slugging infielder who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Craig Counsell

Brewers manager who has emphasized small ball and fundamentals to compensate for the team's injured stars.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We have to find ways to manufacture runs and put pressure on the defense. That's what we've been focused on with some of our key guys out.”

— Craig Counsell, Brewers Manager

What’s next

The Brewers will hope to get Yelich and Hiura back healthy in the coming weeks to bolster their lineup, but in the meantime they'll need to continue their scrappy, small-ball approach to stay in the NL Central race.

The takeaway

The Brewers' ability to adapt their offensive strategy and find creative ways to score runs without their top power hitters could be a key factor in determining whether they make the playoffs this season.