PHOENIX — In Major League Baseball, there is no odder couple than New York and Milwaukee — the largest and smallest markets.
Yet, in three weeks they will play a series in The Bronx that promises to be captivating beyond the obvious that comes with the anticipation and pomp of opening the season: because of the many connections between franchises that are normally so disparate.
Devin Williams will be closing for the Yankees and Nestor Cortes will be starting one of the three games — perhaps Jose Quintana, too. Mark Canha, considered by both New York teams in the offseason, and Caleb Durbin have strong chances to make the Brewers as depth pieces. And Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt and Fernando Cruz, all quite NL Central familiar to Milwaukee, will be making their Yankees debuts.
A visit to Brewer camp brought out interesting insights on all the figures who will bring familiarity (and perhaps more) to the opening series: