Christian Yelich ($4,200) was once one of the preeminent players in the game. Back in 2019, he clubbed 44 home runs, scored 100 runs, drove in 97 and stole 30 bases. Since then, though, injuries have sapped his plate appearances while Father Time is slowly making sure his undefeated streak remains intact.
While Yelich has seven home runs and eight stolen bases in 203 plate appearances this season, the slash is only .184/.276/.324. That said, the BABIP is only .222 while the ISO is .140.
On Thursday, the regression fairies awakened and sprinkled their magic to the tune of two home runs, the first multi-homer game for Yelich since 2023.
In the bottom of the first, with two men on, Yelich took a first-pitch curveball for a strike. The next pitch was a high and outside fastball that Yelich went oppo for the 356-foot home run.
After grounding into a double play in the third inning, Yelich was up in the sixth inning with no one on. He took a 93 mph fastball for a strike. The next pitch was another fastball low-and-inside for a ball. On the third pitch, he sent an 82 mph changeup in the right field seats for a solo shot that went 415 feet.
Yelich has accounted for four of the five runs, as the Brewers lead the Pirates 5-3 in the sixth inning.
