The 2018 Milwaukee Brewers versus the franchise’s previous fast-starters
1987 Brewers
First 50 games: 28-22, .560, 3rd place, 4.0 GB
After first 50 games: 63-49, .563
Finish: 91-71, .562, 3rd place, 7.0 GB
The 1987 Brewers are the team most fans remember as the fastest-starting team in franchise history. They won their first 13 games and 17 of their first 18. For three weeks to open the 1987 season, they just couldn’t lose. By May 2, they were 20-3 and five games up in the AL East.
Then it all fell apart. The Brewers lost 12 straight games and 18 of 20. They recovered to win six of their next seven and had a 28-22 record through 50 games, which is tied for the fifth-best record in franchise history. As you can see, they got there in a very unconventional way with their good and bad streaks early in the season.
After winning 56 percent of their first 50 games, the Brewers won 56 percent of their next 112 games to finish with a record of 91-71 (.562). That put them in third place, seven games behind the Detroit Tigers and five behind the Toronto Blue Jays. It was their best season since their 1982 World Series campaign, but still a disappointment after starting 13-0 and 17-1.
The top players on the 1987 Brewers were left-handed pitcher Teddy Higuera (6.3 WAR), DH/3B/2B Paul Molitor (6.0 WAR), right-handed pitcher Bill Wegman (4.6 WAR), and centerfielder Robin Yount (3.3 WAR). Higuera was 18-10 with a 3.85 ERA. Wegman won 12 games with a 4.24 ERA.
Molitor was transitioning to the DH role at this point. He played 41 games at third base, 19 games at second base, and 58 at DH. At the plate, he hit .353/.438/.566 and led the league in runs scored and doubles. Yount was in his third year as an outfielder after playing shortstop for the first half of his career. He hit .312/.384/.479, with 99 runs scored and 103 RBI.