MLB Playoffs: Why did Milwaukee Brewers cut Keon Boxton from NLCS roster?

Milwaukee Brewers General Manager David Stearns cut Keon Broxton from the team’s NLCS roster for left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno in the 2018 MLB Playoffs.

The Milwaukee Brewers often used Broxton in September as a defensive replacement during the regular season and 2018 NLDS MLB Playoffs. Furthermore, Broxton hit a home un off the bench in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Colorado Rockies in Coors Field.

However, Stearns felt like the Brewers needed an extra pitcher for the NLCS.

We recognize that a seven-game series is a little different when you’re playing three games in a row,” Stearns explained.

The MLB Playoffs holds a five game 2-2-1 format for the NLDS. The team with homefield advantage plays the first two and the last one at home, but there are scheduled days off after the first two and before the last one for travel.

In the MLB Playoffs NLCS, this format changes. The NLCS is a seven-game series: 2-3-2. The first two games are at home, but then there are three away games. Those three games are played without an off-day. This change to the schedule is what Stearns refers to in the quote.

He continues, “I do think it’s possible to go with 11 pitchers. Teams have done it in the past. But the norm is to go up one,” Stearns said.

Keon Broxton Helps Milwaukee Brewers With Speed, Defense

Broxton could develop into a Mike Cameron type MLB performer, but he is young and his talents are still raw. Broxton struck out over 31 percent of his 2018 regular season at-bats.

For context, that rate would have landed him in a pool of the 10 worst for this year among players with at least 400 plate appearances.

Many Brewers fans will likely react to Keon Broxton’s removal from the NLCS roster with a sad sigh. Broxton has more than the physical projections of Mike Cameron.

The Brewers outfielder constantly shines a big smile on his face and genuinely looks like he is a kid having fun with friends on the sandlot every time he puts on a Brewers uniform. This youthful exuberance endears him to the blue-collar Milwaukee fanbase.

Furthermore, Broxton had some big moments in 2018. Perhaps none bigger than his home run robbery of Brian Dozier on July 4th at Miller Park. Listen to the fans and announcer, but, more importantly, watch Broxton after making the catch. That emotion is what Brewers fans love.

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Stearns, however, decided to stick with just Domingo Santana and Curtis Granderson as bench outfielders for the NLCS. Santana has been hot as a

power-hitting pinch hitter

in September, and Granderson provides a veteran left-handed outfield bat to the bench.

Adding Xavier Cedeno To Milwaukee Brewers NLCS Roster Makes Sense

Despite Broxton’s popularity, potential and power display in NLDS Game 3; Stearns needed to add a pitcher. The 2018 Los Angeles Dodgers use a platoon offense filled with game-changing left-handed bats such as Max Muncy and Joc Pederson.

Manager Craig Counsell already utilizes a bullpen dominated pitching strategy.

The Brewers will keep Gio Gonzalez, Wade Miley, and Jhoulys Chacin who will start Game 1, 2, and 3 of the NLCS.

Milwaukee also kept Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes, and Junior Guerra who are stretched out and could pitch multiple innings during an NLCS game.

However, Stearns and Counsell felt like the deep Dodgers lineup needed to be countered with a deeper bullpen through a seven-game series.

Stearns acquired Cedeno from the White Sox on August 31, which made him eligible for the Brewers 2018 MLB Playoffs because he joined the team before September.

Next. Gio filling role he was acquired for. dark

Cedeno made 15 appearances down the stretch for the Brewers and only gave up one earned run. Evidently, that was a big enough sample size to earn Counsell’s trust heading into the NLCS versus the Dodgers.

The Dodgers never got a look at Cedeno during the 2018 season.

Cedeno held left-handed bats to a .207 batting average and zero home runs this year.

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