We are about 68-72 games into the 2018 Major League Baseball regular season, depending on which team we’re talking about, and the Milwaukee Brewers currently have the best record in the National League. Raise your hand if you thought the Brewers would have the NL’s best record through 68 games. Be honest. Let’s take a look at some of the players who have been key to this amazing start for the Brewers.
Travis Shaw/3B- To this point in the season, Shaw has been the Brewers most valuable player. He won’t be the league MVP, but at this rate, there is a chance he could end up on the back end of the ballot. Shaw currently stands with 14 home runs and 43 RBI’s, both of which lead the team.
Lorenzo Cain/CF- This man has been exactly what the Brewers spent 80 million dollars on. Cain has been excellent out of the lead off spot and has played Gold Glove defense. Without Cain, Milwaukee would have surely suffered more losses at this point.
Christian Yelich/OF- The big trade this off season was Milwaukee acquiring Christian Yelich from the Miami Marlins for prospects. Yelich hasn’t exactly been great on offense, but he has been solid and has played incredible defense, exactly like Cain. Milwaukee didn’t get Cain and Yelich for their bats. They acquired them for their defensive prowess.
Jhoulys Chacin/SP- Who in the world would have thought Jhoulys Chacin would be the Brewers wins leader and best pitcher in the middle of June? I mean seriously, come on. But that is exactly the case. Chacin is a sparkling 6-1, with a 3.32 ERA.
Josh Hader and Jeremy Jeffress/RP- that bullpen, which is overachieving by leaps and bounds, is the reason the Brewers have the league’s best record. Hader and Jeffress have been absolutely phenomenal to this point in the season. Hader carries an ERA of 1.18, a strikeout per nine inning number of 17.2, and 12 saves. Jeffress meanwhile has been maybe the National League’s best relief pitcher to this point in the season. Through 33 appearances totaling 33.2 innings, Jeffress carries a sparkling 0.53 ERA. As long as these guys keep performing, Milwaukee will be just fine. The remaining games this season will surely test our Brewers, but so far this team is “for real.”
