[ad_1]
In 2018, a record of 20-7 in the last month of the season propelled the Milwaukee Brewers to their unlikely central league title of the National League. Christian Yelich drove the bus to the offensive with feats that ultimately led to his first award as the most valuable player, and Craig Counsell's philosophy was strongly inspired by Corbin Burnes Brandon Woodruff, Corey Knebel and Jeremy Jeffress, at least at the time Jhoulys Chacin was dead. & # 39; deliver quality beginnings. They finished with a record 96 wins after defeating the Cubs in a decisive match against the 163 game at Wrigley Field, and made it to the seventh game of the NLCS series – the deepest race this generation fans knew – before bowing out.
It is certainly not certain that this year's Brewers version has this ability in the last month of the 2019 regular season, however. After losing 7-1 to Chicago on August 30, their record was just two games more than .500 to 68-66. The club had been tramping for most of the season and suddenly found itself in third place in six league games. Fangraphs gave them a 7.4% chance to play in the playoffs and a 1.5% chance of winning the division. The offense had been inconsistent and pitching poorly, apparently missing the same overall level of talent as that of the 2018 unit.
This makes the team's journey even more incredible over the past four weeks. Since dropping their opening game on the road at Wrigley Field, the Brewers have been the best baseball team, winning 20 games and leaving only four. There has been a series of four consecutive wins and two players with seven players, including one active player after today's 5-3 triumph over the Reds. That pushed Milwaukee's record to 89-70. The selection of Counsell has qualified for the first consecutive time in the playoffs for the first time since 1981-1982 with his victory on Wednesday before playing the last weekend of the regular season against the Cardinals of Saint -Louis, who are leading the division. who will face Chicago for three games at Busch Stadium.
Even more surprising is that Milwaukee is doing all this despite the loss of his MVP title more than two weeks ago as a result of an injury that ended the season. Yelich had an even better season than last year when he broke his kneecap on September 10 and that many fans and experts criticized the team even more after the revelations about the severity of the injury. Also absent, Knebel, who did not throw a ball from his elbow during spring training, as well as Jeffress and Chacin, who both started so badly that they were released. Woodruff, who has become a star starter this season, has only started four innings this month after returning from a long absence due to an oblique injury. Burnes has regressed so much this season that he has largely not been a factor.
Instead, new heroes came to the fore and etched their names into milwaukee baseball legends. The overall offense was not quite exceptional, placing fifth on the senior circuit in the heats scored for the month of September and sixth in wRC + before today's match, but several have raised their matches in the most important moments. Two rookies made significant contributions – league player Trent Grisham played an almost daily role in Yelich's place and has a 127 wRC + plate in 85 caps, mainly as the leading hitter, and Keston Hiura came back from a hamstring to publish a score of 131 wRC +. three dingers in 10 games. Signatory free agent Yasmani Grandal has earned every cent of his contact this year. This is especially true in September, leading the team with six homers and a 152 wRC +. Mike Moustakas was not so hot, but he managed some home runs. Speaking of well-timed long balls, Ryan Braun has broken some in recent years and leads the club with 17 RBIs. Eric Thames continues to argue his contract option, and even Lorenzo Cain is achieving his best offensive season month, although he continues to provide an unparalleled defense on central ground.
Make no mistake, though. The success of this team lies with the pitching staff. No unit was more stingy in terms of preventing races in September than Milwaukee, who earned a 2.77 ERA for the month before allowing three earned runs. With expanded formations and Craig Counsell at his best, it took a village to catapult the Brewers into the playoffs. Josh Hader remains a pillar of last season. This time he was replaced by the other wounded and attrition. Zach Davies and Gio Gonzalez have also been top players this year after clinching important heats in 2018. Chase Anderson did not participate in last season's training, but if Milwaukee managed to pass the Wild Card, he does not expect to suffer the same fate. The unexpected aspect is Jordan Lyles, which Baseball America recently dubbed "the most impactful addition" of the trading deadline in 2019. Drew Pomeranz has found a second life as a suddenly dominant upstart. Brent Suter missed his last match after Tommy John's surgery, but he returned barely a year later and has so far launched 17.1 medium-relief sleeves while still only agreeing to do so. ;a point. Alex Claudio and Junior Guerra continue to take the ball with each request and Freddy Peralta seems to have found the right mix of resting and relieving pitching to maximize his effectiveness.
At worst, they won a place in the Wild Card, but that's no reason for our beloved local 9 to rest on its laurels in the last round of the season in Colorado. The club will hope to avoid any craziness at Coors Field, but also if it needs the help of these naughty boys from Northside Chicago as they end the year in St. Louis (although Joe Maddon says he play it does not give you what you think.) No matter what happens, whatever the trajectory that this team has organized, with these players, the countless "seasons ended" has gone The year was all just amazing to watch.
As they say, you can not predict baseball.
Statistics provided by Fangraphs
[ad_2]
Source link