NL Central up for grabs: Milwaukee Brewers Edition
The Milwaukee Brewers are scorching hot, thanks to an impressive offense and pitching. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
For the past two seasons, the Chicago Cubs have worn the division crown, and done so without much competition. This year promises to be different, as three other National League Central teams–the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds–are in the hunt to dethrone the Cubs.
The Milwaukee Brewers are winners of eight of their past ten games, which has earned them a half-game division lead. Last years’ Wild Card victor is without their two best pitchers from last season, CC Sabathia, who signed with the New York Yankees, and Ben Sheets, who is now a Texas Ranger, but their pitching has not suffered. Their staff’s statistics are not mind-boggling, but keep their offense is games.
Yovani Gallardo, who missed a majority of last season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, is healthy and pitching like an ace. The 23-year old righthander is 4-1 with a 3.09 Earned Run Average; he has a 1.05 WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched) and a .194 BAA (Batting Average Against). Aside from one bad start, his second of the season in which he allowed seven runs in five innings, he has relinquished nine total runs over his other six starts. He has the repertoire to continue to dazzle the opposition, and if he does, the Brewers will continue to thrive off his production.
Veteran Dave Bush has been very dependable behind Gallardo, even though he has only two wins for his efforts. Like Gallardo, he does not give up many hits nor walks, reasoning for why his WHIP is equally as low. He has been susceptible to the home-run, allowing eight so far, but if he keeps limiting the base-runners, the long-ball can be tolerated. He is not flashy, not going to light up the radar gun, or rack up the strikeouts, but what he will do, as he has done, is give his offense a chance.
The other three starters that round out the rotation–Braden Looper, Manny Parra, and Jeff Suppan–haven’t been as effective, but satisfactory nonetheless. Looper began the season on a tear, accounting for two wins and a 2.46 ERA during his first four starts, all wins for Milwaukee. He has since cooled, losing two of three outings in which he has allowed 14 runs on 22 hits. Yet, in spite of it all, he managed to win his most recent start that was part of the Brewers blistering stretch.
Parra and Suppan are a combined 4-7 with a mediocre 5.15 ERA. Both started the season slow, so their statistics are deceiving. Parra has been stellar recently, allowing only seven runs in 23 innings, good for a ERA of 2.73 in those four starts. Suppan has bounced back as well, boasting a 3.89 ERA in six starts since relinquishing eleven runs in his first two outings.
The Brewers offense has benefited from their pitching staff. The tandem of Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder in the middle of the lineup has been deadly. The duo has hit for a high average, and combined for 16 home-runs and 60 rbi’s. They have been able to drive in runs at an alarming rate because of the play of Rickie Weeks and Mike Cameron, the first and second-place hitters.
Weeks has finally figured out how to hit consistently. The 26-year old second baseman has a career batting average of .248, which would be even more anemic if not for his hotting hitting this spring. He is hitting .284 with 9 home-runs and 24 rbi’s, providing the jolt Milwaukee has patiently waited four seasons to witness.
Cameron, too, has been revitalized. He has always had the talent, but his career has been marred by his tendency to strikeout. Throughout his fourteen-plus seasons, he has struck out 30 percent of the time. This season, however, his percentage has lowered to 19 percent, meaning he has put the ball in play more, resulting in a better offensive game. Because of this, his average is .304, his walk rate is up (20 walks to 22 strikeouts), and his on-base percentage is third on the team at an impressive 40 percent.
The Brewers have a lot of positives and very few negatives. This is why they will keep the pressure on the Cubs, and whoever else may give them trouble in the division.
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