Milwaukee Brewers vs Kansas City Royals Picks and Predictions April 2nd 2025

Brewers Aim to Build on First Win

After four straight losses, the Milwaukee Brewers finally got into the win column with a 5-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday. The win, which snapped an 0-5 start the likes of which the team hadn’t seen since 2003, provided a much-needed morale boost in the locker room. Rookie Chad Patrick and four relievers combined on a four-hitter, while Eric Haase and Christian Yelich homered to punctuate the performance.

“It’s huge. And it means a lot in the locker room,” said Brewers manager Pat Murphy. “They can relax a little and breathe somewhat.”
Murphy noted that in their previous four losses, the team was outscored 47-15, with opponents piling up first-inning runs in every game. “When you’re looking at the first four games and they score runs every time in the first inning, it just seems like we’re snakebit a little bit. But the whole game felt better on Tuesday.”

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Opening Day Revisit for Starters

For the deciding game of the series against the Royals on Wednesday afternoon, the Brewers are set to turn to right-hander Freddy Peralta. Peralta, who took the loss on Opening Day in New York despite allowing just two runs in five innings, sports a 3.60 ERA. He will face left-hander Cole Ragans, Kansas City’s Opening Day starter, who gave up three runs in over five innings against the Cleveland Guardians.

Peralta has previously faced the Royals twice—recording a 1-0 record with a 0.00 ERA over 8 2/3 innings. The Brewers will look to repeat that success as they try to extend their momentum. Meanwhile, the Royals, despite winning the series opener 11-1, have struggled to score in their subsequent outings, combining for just 10 runs in four games.

Bolstering the Bullpen

The Brewers’ bullpen received a timely boost with the return of Abner Uribe, who made his season debut after serving a four-game suspension. Uribe earned the win Tuesday with 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief—a welcome sign for a team eager to keep pace and improve its overall performance.

Offensively, Brice Turang (.368) and Sal Frelick (.333) are the only regulars batting above .300 through five games, while Christian Yelich, who had been 1-for-15 before Tuesday’s homer, is looking to recapture his earlier form.

Royals’ Outlook and Pitching Matchup

On the opposing side, the Kansas City Royals are counting on Cole Ragans to deliver once again. Ragans, who allowed five hits in his Opening Day start against Cleveland, left with a 3-2 lead before a subsequent outing resulted in a no-decision in a 3-2 loss to the Brewers on May 6, 2024. Last season, Ragans finished with an 11-9 record and a 3.14 ERA in 32 starts, with his 223 strikeouts ranking second in the American League behind Tarik Skubal.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Ragans looked good overall but noted he lost command later in his outing against Cleveland. “His stuff looked good,” Quatraro said. “I think he lost his command there a little bit, but I expect him to bounce back.”

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Looking Ahead

As the series moves into Wednesday’s decisive game, both teams will be keenly focused on fine-tuning their approach. For the Brewers, it’s about capitalizing on the momentum from Tuesday’s win and tightening up against a Royals team that has struggled offensively since their early-season success. With the series tied and momentum swinging, the outcome could set the tone for the rest of the season.