With the start of the 2019 season rapidly approaching, I believe it’s time that we give you the ultimate breakdown of each division and predict their position in the standings come season’s end. It’s hard to predict record, so we’ll just give you their placement in the standings. Of course, this is coming from a fan’s perspective and what we think it could look like, not what it will. Today, we focus on the National League Central and the Milwaukee Brewers:
Milwaukee Brewers
2018 record: 96-67, 1st in NL Central
Projected Lineup:
CF Lorenzo Cain
RF Christian Yelich
LF Ryan Braun
1B Jesus Aguilar
3B Travis Shaw
2B Mike Moustakas
C Yasmani Grandal
SS Orlando Arcia
Pitcher
Starting Rotation:
RH Brandon Woodruff
RH Jhoulys Chacin
RH Chase Anderson
RH Junior Guerra
RH Zach Davies
Key Bullpen Pieces:
LH Josh Hader
RH Jeremy Jeffress
RH Corey Knebel
Key Bench Pieces:
1B Eric Thames
UTL Hernan Perez
OF Ben Gamel
Heading into 2018, many had the Brewers finishing with a win total of about the mid 80’s and a 3rd place finish in the NL Central. No one expected the Brew Crew to, not only win 96 games, but best the Cubs to win the divisions. With the signing of Lorenzo Cain and trade for Christian Yelich, Milwaukee showed they were ready to battle. And what do these two do for them their first year? Cain hits .309 with a .395 OBP and Yelich goes off, hits .326 with 34 home runs, and OPS 0f 1.000 and wins NL MVP. I’ve been a fan of Yelich for years and always said he was going to break out one day and show the league he can play with the big boys. I love being right! They also had strong complementary pieces like Aguilar and Shaw who both hit 35 and 32 home runs, respectively. The 2019 Brewers have much of the same returning, with the addition of Yasmani Grandal behind the plate, a definite offensive upgrade from Manny Pina and Eric Kratz. There’s no question the offense will be there again this year.
For the Brewers, the question lies with their very below average starting pitching. They don’t have a true number 1 in their rotation. If I had to give it to anyone, it would be Chacin, who made 35 starts and pitched to a 3.50 ERA last year. Anderson had 30 starts last year and pitched to a sub 4.00 ERA, but gave up 30 home runs. Two guys I would keep an eye on heading into 2019 are Woodruff and Davies. Woodruff appeared in 19 games with 4 starts with a respectable 3.61 ERA and 1.181 WHIP. Davies had a down 2018 due to injury, but if he can return and repeat his numbers from 2017 which included 33 starts with an ERA of 3.90, I see him as the dark horse of the Brewers’ rotation.
Milwaukee’s bullpen has its own little three-headed monster themselves with Hader, Jeffress and Knebel. Hader came out of nowhere last year and quickly has solidified himself as one of the top relievers in the game. 81.1 innings with 143 strikeouts and a 0.811 WHIP in 2018. Not to mention he can go multiple innings if needed. Jeffress pitched to a 1.29 ERA and Knebel a 3.58. All three guys together combined for 43 saves last year, which goes to show you teams need more than one shutdown arm in their bullpen.
As far as repeating as NL Central champs, I don’t see it happening for the Brew Crew. They’ll put up a fight, but ultimately, I see them finishing south of their 96 wins from 2018.
2019 prediction: 3rd in NL Central
