The Brewers have placed 3B Russell Branyan on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain. He has played in 48 games this season for the Brewers and he is 33 for 131 (.252 avg, .928 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 12 homers and 20 RBIs. Craig Counsell will probably take over Branyan’s role as platoon partner at 3B with Bill Hall. Counsell has played in 77 games for the Brewers this season and he is 39 for 174 (.224 avg, .628 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 1 homer and 11 RBIs. Those aren’t eye popping numbers but Counsell is battle tested in playoff races and that experience can certainly help the Brewers down the stretch. Bill Hall has played in 99 games this season for the Brewers and he is 73 for 320 (.228 avg, .718 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 14 homers, 46 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. The Brewers have recalled 27-year old lefty swinging outfielder Laynce Nix to replace Branyan on the active roster. Nix has played in 103 games in AAA-ball this year and he is 108 for 380 (.284 avg, .887 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 23 homers, 60 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Nix also had some major league experience which should help him out in the pennant race. He has played in 260 games in his major league career and he is 205 for 863 (.238 avg, .679 OPS) with 114 runs scored, 29 homers, 118 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.

24-year old righty swinging left fielder Ryan Braun is proving that last season was just a beginning. Braun has played in 114 games this season for the Brewers and he is 139 for 464 (.300 avg, .925 OPS) with 66 runs scored, 30 homers, 84 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Braun has already surpassed Prince Fielder as the face of the Milwaukee Brewers and it will likely stay that way in the future. He just looks like he has a very easy power swing as the ball just jumps off his bat. Braun will likely improve in the near future and that’s a scary proposition for the National League.