MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Brewers returned to American Family Field for their 2025 home opener against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, March 31, 2025. The game was crucial for the Brewers, who aimed to break a three-game losing streak after a disastrous start to the season, having been swept by the New York Yankees in their opening series. With first pitch set for 1:10 p.m. ET, fans were hopeful for a turnaround.
The Brewers faced off against the Royals, who had also struggled in their first series, dropping two of three games to the Cleveland Guardians. The matchup featured two pitchers looking to make their mark: Kris Bubic for Kansas City and Elvin Rodriguez for Milwaukee. Rodriguez, making his Brewers debut on his 27th birthday, had a tough task ahead, especially after the Brewers had been outscored 36-14 in their previous series.
As the game began, the Brewers were greeted with a tribute to the late Bob Uecker, the team's longtime radio announcer who passed away in January at the age of 90. The tribute included heartfelt moments, including a moment of silence and the unveiling of a special jersey patch in his honor.
However, the optimism quickly faded as the Royals jumped to an early lead. In the first inning, the Brewers' defense faltered, allowing Kansas City to score three runs, including a ground-rule double that eluded Christian Yelich in left field. The Royals continued to capitalize on Milwaukee's mistakes, with Hunter Renfroe, a former Brewer, driving in runs to extend the lead to 4-0 by the second inning.
Elvin Rodriguez struggled on the mound, allowing four runs in just four innings of work. The Brewers' pitching woes were compounded by a series of injuries that had left the rotation depleted. Rodriguez, who had previously pitched well in Japan, was unable to find his rhythm against the Royals, and the Brewers found themselves in a deep hole early in the game.
Milwaukee's offense, meanwhile, continued to struggle. Despite having some bright spots, such as Sal Frelick, who had been hitting well, the team failed to generate significant scoring opportunities. The Brewers managed only six hits throughout the game, with Jackson Chourio finally breaking through with an RBI double in the seventh inning, but it was too little, too late.
As the game progressed, the Royals continued to pile on the runs, ultimately winning 11-1, marking the Brewers' third consecutive blowout loss. This defeat dropped Milwaukee to 0-4 on the season, the worst start for the franchise since 2015. The Brewers have now been outscored 47-15 in their first four games, tying the record for the most runs allowed in the first four games of a season in MLB history.
After the game, Christian Yelich expressed the team's frustration, stating, “It’s just four games, but we gotta do better. It’s unacceptable to do that. There’s different kinds of losses, but we’re better than that.” The sentiment was echoed by manager Pat Murphy, who acknowledged the team's struggles but emphasized the importance of staying focused on the process rather than the results.
Looking ahead, the Brewers will attempt to bounce back in their next game, scheduled for 6:40 p.m. CT on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Chad Patrick is set to make his first big-league start against Royals starter Michael Lorenzen. The Brewers will need to turn things around quickly to avoid falling further behind in the early season.
In summary, the Milwaukee Brewers faced a challenging start to the 2025 season, highlighted by their home opener loss to the Kansas City Royals. With a series of tough games ahead, the team is eager to find their footing and turn their fortunes around.
