7. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have outscored opponents by 35 runs in the final innings of games, and they’ve been consistent about it, with small double-digit advantages in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings. Their only drawback, obviously a minor one, has been in the infrequent occurrence of extra innings, where they’re been out-scored but just by 18-14.
Milwaukee’s .724 team OPS in late innings is solidly better than the .683 allowed by Brewers pitchers. In all high-leverage situations, Milwaukee hitters have risen to the occasion, producing a .776 OPS that is best among National League MLB playoffs contenders. If nothing else, that alone makes Milwaukee a solid threat to club its way to the World Series.
It also explains Milwaukee’s advantage in comeback wins vs. blown leads, with 37 of the former and 31 of the latter.
There is a downside. The Brewers’ winning percentage in games tied after 6 innings is an uninspiring .507, barely above the average for all of MLB and hardly in keeping with the expectations of contenders. The Crew has partially made up for that with an impressive .228 winning percentage in games in which they trail after 6 innings. For comparison purposes, the average of the 13 contending teams in that category is just .160; only Houston, at .234, is better.
The Milwaukee ordinals are: runs, 7th; OPS, 8th; high-leverage, 6th; performance in late ties, 7th. The average is 7.00.