The Milwaukee Brewers Are Tied for the Best Record in the NL Despite Having Half the Team on the IL

The Milwaukee Brewers have *clears throat* 13 players currently on the Injured List and that number could go up depending on the status of catcher Omar Narvaez after he was taken out of last night’s 3-1 win over the Dodgers.

How?

Yeah, 13 players currently, actively, on the Injured List and 16 players have gone there for the Brewers this season. I’m not sure if you folks have noticed, but its only a month into the season.

The Brewers starting pitching, that has 10 starts between 3 players currently on the IL, has been the biggest reason for Brewer success. It really isn’t even JUST the starting pitching, it’s more of the pitching staff in its entirety.

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Since the beginning of last season…

Corbin Burnes:
83.2 IP
1.61 ERA
1.65 FIP
13.7 K/9
2.6 BB/9
13 XBH allowed
3.8 fWAR

Jacob deGrom
88 IP
1.94 ERA
2.06 FIP
14.2 K/9
2.2 BB/9
26 XBH allowed
3.7 fWAR

— Jeremy Frank (@MLBRandomStats) April 21, 2021

Not only have Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Adrian Houser, and Freddy Peralta been limiting damage, but guys like Wisconsinite JP Feyereisen and former All-Star closer Brad Boxberger have been lights out, seemingly out of nowhere. Between the two of JP and Brad, they’ve logged 23 innings and only 2 earnies in 25 appearances. Add that in with “The Airbender” Devin Williams and the best closer in baseball, Josh Hader, and it has been impossible for teams to score.

Milwaukee Brewers Offense

Back in the Prince Fielder days, the Brewers had a HUGE Citgo (I think) gas pump that would keep track of the Brewers season home run total. The Brewers offensive identity used to be bashing homers. However, that hasn’t been the way the 2021 Brewers have been getting thins done.

This is especially reflected in the Brewers devilish .666 OPS that ranks tied for 26th of the 30 MLB teams. Despite a lot of injuries and offensive struggles, the Brewers have been able to plate just enough runners to win 16 games.

Sustainability

Is really bad offense with elite pitching sustainable? Abso-fucking-lutely not. HOWEVER, Once Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain come back to provide, what I hope to all that is Holy an offensive spark. If this team is able to score and hit well or even more towards the middle of the pack in terms of all MLB teams, watch out. This is your warning, the Milwaukee Brewers are going to be good at baseball.