What happened: Joey Ortiz is providing stability at third base for the Milwaukee Brewers following his move from shortstop. The positional shift occurred after the promotion of Cooper Pratt, giving the team production at a long-standing problem spot.
Why it matters: Ortiz's surge reduces Milwaukee's urgency to acquire a corner infielder ahead of the trade deadline. With the market largely devoid of impact bats like the Chicago Cubs' Matt Shaw, the Brewers can instead focus their resources on upgrading the pitching staff.
By the numbers: Since transitioning to third base on June 27, Ortiz has posted a .307 batting average with four home runs and an .883 OPS. Milwaukee carries a 60-36 record as the deadline approaches.
What to watch: The Brewers are expected to target pitching additions in the coming days while anticipating the return of David Hamilton to the infield.