The Milwaukee Brewers are looking strong coming off a 95-67 regular season, second best record in club history. They are gearing up to face the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the National League Division Series (NLDS), starting Friday.
The Brewers had an amazing season, shocking the MLB and winning the National League Central Division. This was surprising to many, because the Brewers did not make any significant offseason acquisitions to improve the team and had a lackluster year in last year’s shortened season.
The reason the Brewers have emerged as a top team in the National League is because of the pitching. The pitching has made up for subpar hitting throughout the season. Leading the way was the best starting trio in Major League Baseball: Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta.
Burnes had many accomplishments in a historic season, posting an MLB-best 2.43 ERA (first Brewer to do so), 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings, and a 6.88 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In addition, Burnes was an All-Star for the first time this season and he is a National League Cy Young candidate. He is starting Game 1 of the NLDS on Friday.
Burnes also was a part of a combined no-hitter with Josh Hader in which he pitched eight innings, struck out 14 and walked only one. It was the first Brewers no-hitter since Juan Nieves in 1987. Burnes also holds the record for the most strikeouts (58) to start a season without a walk.
Woodruff also posted an impressive 2021. Coming into the season as the ace, Woodruff posted a 2.56 ERA with 211 strikeouts and 43 walks in 179.1 innings. Woodruff’s impressive season earned him his second All-Star appearance, and he is the projected starter for Game 2.
The last leg of the trio is Peralta. Peralta had a breakout season, finishing the year with a 2.81 ERA with 195 strikeouts and 56 walks in 144.1 innings. Peralta’s season has earned him his first All-Star honors and is likely a lock for game three of the NLDS.
The bullpen is strong, led by Josh Hader, posting a 1.23 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 58.2 innings. However, the Brewers will be without 2020 National League Reliever of the Year Devin Williams for the postseason as he deals with a fractured hand. He had an impressive year with a 2.50 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 54 innings. The rest of the bullpen will have to step up in his absence.
The downfall for the Brewers has been their hitting. They posted a .233 batting average, which was the fourth lowest in baseball and the lowest among the playoff teams. The Brewers haven’t had any star hitters this season, but every player has contributed in different spots.
Kolten Wong, who was a free agent signing this past offseason, has been steady leadoff hitter for the Brewers. Making great plays in the field and batting .272 with a team-leading 32 doubles. In addition, his consistent hitting and speed is something the Brewers may rely on to generate runs in the playoffs.
Willy Adames was acquired in a trade on May 22. The trade received backlash as the Brewers gave up one of their best relievers for a shortstop hitting below the Mendoza line. However, the trade worked out and Adames created a spark for the Brewers. With Milwaukee, Adames batted .285 with 20 home runs.
Avisail García is enjoying a nice year, hitting .262 and leading the team in home runs (29) and RBI with (86).
Brewers have a good chance to make a deep run, if pitching stays dominant and hitters can manufacture runs in key situations. A massive wildcard will be Christian Yelich. Coming off a fractured kneecap in 2019 and having reoccurring injury problems this year has hurt the former MVP. If Yelich can return to prime MVP form in the playoffs, the sky is the limit for Milwaukee.
Game 1 on Friday will feature Burnes vs. Charlie Morton. The Brewers will rely on Burnes to limit the Braves star-studded offense. The Braves have amazing firepower led by Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley. The Braves are missing two key pieces in Ronald Acuña Jr. and Marcell Ozuna. However, they acquired Jorge Soler, Adam Duvall and Eddie Rosario at the July 31 trade deadline to make up for their losses.
The Brewers are 3-3 against the Braves this season, and are favored by 1.5 runs in Game 1.