Milwaukee Brewers: Is There Any Staying Power Atop the NL Central?

The Milwaukee Brewers have displayed unforeseen success in 2017 and are currently a half-game behind first place in the NL Central. But how long can the Brewers keep this unexpected performance going?

It’s May 26 and who other than the Milwaukee Brewers are in the hunt for first place in the National League Central. Milwaukee ranks ahead of the always imposing St. Louis Cardinals and are currently a half-game behind the defending world champion Chicago Cubs. The Brewers have raised a lot of eyebrows in the early going, yet, they still can’t steal a headline from their division rivals. Nevertheless, they’ve earned at least a little recognition. But how long can the Brew Crew keep this first place play going?

In all honesty, the Milwaukee Brewers may lose the first place nod within a few days. The final three games in a four-game series awaits against a challenging Arizona Diamondbacks club that already took game one, and then they head to New York to face the Mets. In the scope of things, a seven game span means very little, however, each day around the top of the NL Central is a shocker and an achievement for the Brewers.

The Brewers have been all about offense this season. They lead the division in home runs, runs scored, and OPS. Their two biggest contributors didn’t even wear a Brewers’ uniform last season. Travis Shaw, hitting .282 with 9 home runs, was aquired this offseason from the Boston Red Sox. It was a deal in which everyone was giving attention to the assumed contending Red Sox. Boston acquired a presumed bullpen weapon in Tyler Thornburg, while giving up an exploitable corner infielder. Ironically, Thornburg has yet to throw a regular season pitch for the Boston Red Sox, while Travis Shaw has emerged as a weapon for the Milwaukee Brewers.

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A wise trade brought Shaw to Milwaukee, though, that doesn’t compare to the genius signing of the well traveled Eric Thames. Thames has earned most of the headlines for Milwaukee in 2017. After searching for a steady big league career in the U.S., Thames opted to take his game to South Korea for a few years. He quickly excelled, to the point in which he became a celebrity in Korea due to his play on the field. His dominance overseas led him to take another swing in America. Thames signed a three-year, $16 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers this past offseason. It clearly was not an act of charity, as the contract is quite lucrative for an unproven MLB player. The deal has certainly paid off to date, Thames has emerged as one of the elite hitters in baseball in 2017.

Both Shaw and Thames have sustained thus far. Ryan Braun continues to be his productive self (when healthy), Hernan Perez has played a nice role in the Brewer lineup, and other surprises such as Jesus Aguilar and Jett Bandy have played a part as well in the offensive exposition. The Brewers lineup can struggle with consistency, but you could say the same about both the Cubs’ and Cardianls’ lineups. Milwaukee’s offense could compete for the duration of the regular season.

The true question mark pinpoints the pitching staff. Milwaukee’s starting rotation ranks 22nd in MLB with a 4.63 ERA and dead last in BAA (Batting Average Against) at .282. The bullpen has suprisingly held up. Despite a 9-12 record, the pen has managed 15 saves, ranking third in baseball. Late inning arms have also contributed MLB’s ninth ranked ERA.

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The Milwaukee Brewers could moderatly be compared to this year’s Colorado Rockies team. Colorado leads the National League West quite comfortably at the moment. They do have what is undoubtedly one of baseball’s most dangerous offenses. Yet, you still get the feeling the Rockies pitching staff will eventually bring them back to earth. The same goes for the Brewers. Milwaukee’s offense is very good, but their pitching will jump them from relevance sooner than later. You see it every year–the teams with the consistent arms can best withstand the 162 game season. Pitching is much less likely to slump than hitting.

Take into account the dominant staff which the St. Louis Cardinals possess, plus the Chicago Cubs’ all-star rotation…the Brewers won’t be able to compete long term.

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So, to answer the titled question…their reign atop the National League Central will not last much longer. Unfortunately, they simply play in the wrong division if they want to compete. The best case scenario for the Milwukee Brewers is a fight for the second wildcard spot heading into the final month of the regular season. Regardless of this year’s outcome, the Brew Crew are making great strides. A team that looked to be a few years away from being competitive at the outset of 2017, they’ve shocked just about everyone this season with their stellar play. It’s always entertaining to root for the underdog, however, reality will set in before you know it for the Milwaukee Brewers.

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