Milwaukee Brewers August In Review: Summer Swoon Knocks Brewers From Their Perch

What a distinction a month makes.

The Milwaukee Brewers have been driving excessive heading into August. They’d gained seven of 9 popping out of the All Star break and regardless of closing out July with a 7-2 loss to the Purple Sox at Fenway Park, started the month sitting three video games forward of the second-place Cardinals within the NL Central Division.

That surge led most observers to foretell the Brewers would make a giant splash forward of MLB’s Commerce Deadline however as a substitute of choosing up an affect bat or two for the stretch run, president of baseball operation David Stearns as a substitute dealt All-Star nearer Josh Hader to the Padres for 2 relievers — one among whom was later DFA’d — and two prospects whereas choosing up two different relievers, one among whom may not even pitch this season.

Issues didn’t go a lot better on the sector because the new-look Brewers went right into a tailspin. First, they have been swept by the Pirates then dropped two to the Reds earlier than getting a short lived reprieve with again—to-back victories over the Rays. However from there, issues simply acquired worse as Milwaukee dropped 9 of its subsequent 13 earlier than closing out the month by taking 4 of six from the Cubs and Pirates.

Now, as they head into the house stretch the Brewers discover themselves on the surface wanting in; 5 video games again of the Cardinals within the Central and a recreation again of San Diego for the third and last NL Wild Card spot.

If the Brewers need to make the playoffs for a franchise-record fifth consecutive season, they’ll have to conjure up among the September magic that they produced in 2018 and ‘19.

Within the meantime, right here’s a glance again on the Brewers’ August:

What Went Proper

RHP Brandon Woodruff: The correct-handed starter didn’t earn a choice in 5 however posted a 2.70 ERA with 31 strikeouts and eight walks over 30 innings of labor. He’s been lights-out since getting back from a month-long stint on the IL on the finish of June, going 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 65 innings spanning 11 begins.

RHP Peter Strzelecki: Yearly, it appears, the Brewers name up an in any other case unheralded reliever to supply some depth that someway turns into an indispensable a part of the crew’s bullpen. This 12 months isn’t any totally different as Strezlecki, a rookie right-hander produced a 3.45 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 9 appearances.

INF Keston Hiura: As a rookie, Hiura was a key cog within the late-season surge that resulted in a Wild Card berth in 2019 however hasn’t been the identical since. Milwaukee introduced him again on Aug. 4 and he’s discovered a groove on the plate, slashing .255/.314/.638 with six homers, 11 RBIs and a .952 OPS.

What Went Mistaken

Corbin Burnes: After giving up a mixed seven runs in his last three begins — together with a season-high 5 his final trip — Burnes produced a whopping 4.81 ERA in August, his highest single-month mark with not less than 4 begins since April 2019 when his ERA stood at 10.70 after 4 brutal outings to begin his sophomore season.

Bullpen: After buying and selling Hader, the thought was Devin Williams may slide simply into the ninth-inning position whereas commerce deadline pickups Matt Bush and Taylor Rogers would take some stress off Brad Boxberger in late-inning conditions. That plan has hardly come to fruition although as Milwaukee’s bullpen mixed for eight blown saves through the month.

Trevor Rosenthal: As if buying and selling a two-time All-Star nearer wasn’t sufficient of a raffle, Stearns took on an excellent larger danger when he despatched outfield prospect Tristin Peters to the Giants for veteran right-hander Trevor Rosenthal, who hadn’t pitched since 2020 and was presently on the IL with a strained left hamstring. The Brewers hoped he’d have the ability to be part of the crew for the stretch run however suffered a shoulder harm throughout a minor-league rehab task in doubtless gained’t be accessible till a possible postseason recreation.

What’s Subsequent

The Brewers spent a lot of the primary half on the street, together with a trio of three-city, 10-game street journeys however all that journey pays off in September because the crew will play 20 of its last 26 video games at dwelling together with 9 straight to wrap up the common season.

There are challenges forward, notably a six-game run in opposition to the Yankees and Mets together with 4 video games in opposition to the Cardinals. The Brewers even have a double-header in opposition to the Giants on Aug. 8, which comes close to the tip of a stretch of 18 video games in 17 days.

Nonetheless, the slate is favorable, particularly in comparison with the Padres who will see an terrible lot of the MLB-leading Dodgers down the stretch so in a manner, the Brewers have a least some management over their very own future.