10 stats you may not know that are fueling the Milwaukee Brewers hot start

The Milwaukee Brewers are tied with the Atlanta Braves with the best record in the National League at 14-5 and trail only the Tampa Bay Rays for the best record in the majors this season (16-3).

Faced with a 10-game road trip out west, sometimes a dreaded road trip in the past, the Brew Crew won seven of the 10 against Arizona, San Diego and Seattle. While their team batting stats are not setting the world on fire (.257, sixth-best in the N.L.), it’s the pitching staff and defense that are making news.

What is making the Milwaukee Brewers so tough to open the season?

Here are 10 stats that you might not know about the Brewers’ 14-5, first-place start in 2023 (all stats are through games of April 19).

1. Of the five losses the Brewers have suffered, three have been shutouts, and they scored only three runs in each of the other two losses. In games when they score four or more runs, the Brewers are 12-0 this season.

2. The Brewers have only allowed 3.16 runs per game, tops in the National League and fourth-best stat in the majors. While the season is still young, 3.16 runs allowed per game would be a team-best. The fewest runs allowed per game in a season for the Brewers was 3.73 in 1992. They have allowed less than four runs per game in six of their 54 seasons.

3. The team is 4-0 in one-run games and 2-0 in extra-inning games.

4. The team ERA of 2.96 is first in the National League and third-best in MLB. The best team ERA in franchise history is 3.38 in 1971. They had an ERA under 3.50 only four times in team history (1971, 1972, 1988 and 1992).

5. They have scored 95 runs in 19 games and allowed 60, a +35. Only the Rays (+83), Rangers (+43) and Cubs (+39) have a higher run differential in the majors.

6. The Brewers have a .987 fielding percentage. The best fielding percentage in club history is .986 in 1992. They have six seasons (2008, 2009, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2022) with a .984 fielding percentage, tied for second-best in history.

7. They are 7-3 in days games; 7-2 in night games.

8. The Brewers have five players who have three or more home runs this season. That is tied for third-most in the league behind Tampa Bay (they have 10 players with three or more homers) and the Dodgers (who have seven players with three or more homers this season).

9. Milwaukee’s bullpen has a 2.15 ERA, second-best in the majors behind the Yankees at 2.04. Their 15 earned runs allowed is the lowest in baseball for bullpen staffs.

10. Brewers rookies (Brice Turang, Joey Wiemer and Garrett Mitchell) have a combined 40 hits this year. That is the most hits by a team of rookies in the league this year. Oakland’s rookies have 39 hits to rank second.