Milwaukee Brewers Summer Check Up


Milwaukee Brewers

42-27 (First in NL Central)



Eye Popping Number

54.4%

That is the percentage of hitters that have struck out against Josh Hader over his 38 innings of work this season. Last year the highest total was Craig Kimbrel’s 49.6% and the year before that was Andrew Miller’s 44.7%. Hader’s strikeout percentage is higher than anyone else, well, ever. Aroldis Chapman had the highest percentage back in 2014 (52.5%), and Hader is well on track to beat it. Dick Radatz has the most strikeouts in a season for a relief pitcher that never made any starts in a season back in 1964 was 181, so at his current pace, Hader will have to pitch 54 innings over the rest of the season to break that mark.

Biggest Surprise

You could pick anyone in the bullpen, Hader and Jeremy Jeffress especially are having much better years than projected, or you could go on the offensive side of the ball. In an offseason where the team signed Lorenzo Cain and traded for Christian Yelich, it was apparent that the team was “going for it” this year. But while both of those all-stars are playing well this year, the best hitter on the team has been Jesus Aguilar. The first baseman is finally getting a full time shot after succeeding a part time role last season. He has the highest on base plus slugging percentage on the team at .893, while other players on the team may have hit for more power or for a better average, Aguilar has done everything very well all season long.

Player to watch

Again, Hader should go here because he is must watch whenever he’s on the mound, but their big ticket free agent acquisition, Lorenzo Cain, has been the pulse of the team all season long. Whether it’s been him playing great defense in center field, or his .290 batting average, or even his team leading 39 walks so that he can steal one of his team leading 14 bases, Cain has done a little bit of everything. He’s been the most valuable player on the team that he originally started his career with before being traded to the Kansas City Royals in 2010.

What to Watch for at the Deadline

The team as a whole has been solid all year, and doesn’t have many holes in it. I think the Brewers will try and make a move in order to stay ahead of the pack in the division and try and make a run in October. With their two best starting pitchers hurt right now, they could try and trade for Cole Hamels (Texas), Tyson Ross (San Diego) and JA Happ (Toronto) surely are at the top of their list. Wilson Ramos (Tampa Bay)  would be an intriguing option as well to solidify their lineup at the catching position as their starter, Stephen Vogt is out for the year. Even if they decided to stand pat, the team is in good shape not only for this season, but future seasons as well.


*All stats as of 6/16 via fangraphs.com and baseball-reference.com

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