"When he came to spring training, you could see real quick this guy still had some game left," Yost said. "He's played like this from the first day of spring training until now.

"He's a very solid player, he's a very fundamental player and he's a winning-type player. He plays the game with a sense of urgency and intensity."

Kapler isn't surprised by his ability to hit the ball (7-for 16 with six RBI), saying he has "very high expectations" for himself. He also doesn't dwell on his decision to leave the game last year.

"I don't feel like life has any rules," Kapler said. "I don't care to follow the path if I don't feel like it and as far as not ... playing straight through; I wanted to try something else."

The waiting game: First baseman Prince Fielder has posted some pretty solid numbers so far. He's batting .364with five RBI. Last year's National League home run king hasn't gone deep yet, but Yost says it's a sign of how the young slugger continues to develop.

"Prince is evolving," Yost said. "We saw Prince last year as a power hitter but I think in the years coming we're going to see Prince as an RBI machine and a power hitter.

"He's a smart kid. He's smart enough to take what's given to him."

While he hasn't homered, he has hit safely in each of the team's first six games.

Fielder hit just one homer during spring training. His last regular-season home run came on September 25, when he hit two against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Gallardo works his way back: RHP Yovani Gallardo made his first rehabilitation start with Triple-A Nashville last week and could be back with the Brewers by the end of April.

Gallardo, who had surgery on his left knee during spring training, worked four innings in Nashville's 7-5 loss to New Orleans on Friday. He threw 75 pitches, allowing three runs on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

The 22-year-old will probably make two more stats with the Sounds and could re-join the big club during a three-game series in Cincinnati next week, barring any setbacks.

"If he's getting his brains lit up, he's going to stay there, but I don't see that happening with his stuff," Yost said. "The main criteria for me is that he's able to throw 100 pitches and how he feels is a big part of it, but since the time he started throwing it, he hasn't felt anything (with the injury). His knee is nothing. It's all arm and endurance and mechanics."

Gallardo went 9-5 as a rookie last season with a 3.67 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 110 1/3 innings pitched. He tore the lateral meniscus in his knee early in camp and underwent arthroscopic surgery on Feb. 19.

Quick hits: Three different relievers have record the Brewers' three saves this season. ... Sheets needs just 18 strikeouts to become the franchise's all-time leader. Teddy Higuera is currently first with 1,081. ... The 119,800 fans that attended the three-game series against the Giants set a franchise record for largest crowd for a season-opening series.

On the farm: Double-A Huntsville opened the season 3-0 ... Chuck Caufield got off to a fast start at Single-A Brevard County. The outfielder hit .538 (7-for-13) with three doubles and six RBI in the Manatees' first three games. ... Triple-A Nashville was swept by New Orleans in the Sounds' season-opening series.

This week: The Brewers take Monday off before opening a three-game set against Cincinnati Tuesday night at Miller Park. The series opener will be the Brewers' first night game of the season. On Friday, the team heads to New York for a nine-game road trip that includes stops in St. Louis and Cincinnati.

He said it: "Maybe he ate his Wheaties." -- Yost, on Bill Hall's two home runs on Opening Day.

Attendance: Total (through three home games) -- 119,800; Average -- 39,933; On pace for -- 3,234,573. Sellouts -- 2.

Sausage Standings: Polish, Italian, Chorizo -- 1; Bratwurst, Hot Dog -- 0.

Under the roof: Games played with roof / panels open -- 0; roof closed / panels open -- 0; roof open / panels closed -- 0; roof / panels closed -- 3. Total home games -- 3.