Why the Brewers make the playoffs
Except for one day, the Milwaukee Brewers have been in first place in the National League Central Division since May 13. With the baseball season nearing its midpoint you’re wondering, naturally, if they can stay there.
The pessimist says two words: “Chicago Cubs.”
Or perhaps that’s the realist talking. Both might point out that the bottom of the Brewers' order has gone days without locating first base, the five pitchers with at least seven starts have an underwhelming 24-23 combined record and a significant number of
players (once again) can’t stay healthy.
Despite their warts, the Brewers project to win 95 games based on their .584 winning percentage going into Tuesday night's game against Kansas City and there are reasons to believe – or at least legitimately hope – that they will fend off the Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals and return playoff baseball to Milwaukee.
Here are five:
Cain and Yelich
It’s not often that a franchise remakes the top of its order in one day in the off-season and sees such an immediate impact. Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich aren’t Paul Molitor and Robin Yount, but they’re the most consistent 1-2 hitters the team has had in years.
With on-base percentages of .394 (Cain) and .365 (Yelich), the two project to combine for 467 hits / walks, score 208 runs and steal 53 bases.
Their 119 combined strikeouts are a few more than you’d like to see out of your top two hitters, but you take their production and run with it. Jeremy Jeffress has a 1.19 ERA. He and Josh Hader provide the Brewers with as close to perfect late-inning relievers as can be.
Resiliency
People are making a big deal out of
the fact that the Brewers have been shut out 10 times already this season. Few have mentioned that they are 7-3 in games following those shutouts.
These Brewers have short memories, perhaps the single most important trait in baseball.
They haven’t had a four-game losing streak since April 26-29 and have never trailed by more than 31⁄2 games in the division.
Their record is as good on the road (22-16) as it is at home (23-16) and they’re 18-10 in one-run games.
All are trends that bode well over 162 games.
Bullpen
without Aguilar’s production.
A big man with a penchant for the big hit, Aguilar has gone from barely making the roster to becoming the team’s most indispensable player.
He’s the rare power hitter who can adjust his stroke on an 0-2 pitch, go down and get an outside curve and dump it into the opposite field.
He’s playing at an all-star level, and if he can keep it up for three more months, he’ll be in the conversation for NL MVP. And I can’t believe I just typed that sentence.
Defense