The 2021 Milwaukee Brewers are an interesting club.
At 82-52, they are running away with the National League Central, and they may very well become the first team in baseball to clinch a division title this season.
However, the Brewers have played the easiest schedule in the Majors this year, and they are likely aren’t going to be very battle-tested when the 2021 playoffs roll around.
That’s a valid concern.
But with that said, Milwaukee does have one (or two) aces up its sleeve—literally.
The team has an electric rotation duo of Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff.
It’s arguably the best one-two punch in all of baseball, and it’s going to make the Brewers an extremely tough out in the postseason.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Burnes’ Season At A Glance
Burnes turned some heads in the 2020 season.
He pitched to a 2.11 ERA, 2.03 FIP, and 1.02 WHIP over 12 outings (nine starts) and even finished sixth in the Cy Young race.
This season, by most measures, he has been even better.
He’s establishing himself as a legitimate superstar in this league.
He is 9-4 with a 2.27 ERA over 23 starts in 2021.
More importantly, he leads the league in all of the following categories: FIP (1.58), home runs per nine (0.3), walks per nine (1.7), strikeouts per nine (12.2), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.27).
It’s impossible to overstate how impressive that is.
Corbin Burnes, Patented 96mph Back Door Cutter. ✂️
Arguably the prettiest pitch in baseball. pic.twitter.com/8Atjjfkost
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 31, 2021
Most sportsbooks consider Los Angeles Dodgers stud Walker Buehler to be the favorite for this year’s NL Cy Young Award, but Burnes also has a very compelling case.
Woodruff’s Season At A Glance
Woodruff is becoming a staple for Milwaukee’s organization.
He posts reliable numbers year in and year out, and there are very few starters in baseball who are better suited to anchor a rotation than Woodruff is.
Incredibly, Burnes might be one of the very few players in the league who would rival Woodruff as the staff ace in any given rotation.
The Brewers simply have an unbelievable situation on their hands with these two.
But let’s get back on track.
Woodruff is working on the best season of his five-year career, and that says a lot.
He currently has a 2.35 ERA, 2.84 FIP, and 0.94 WHIP.
He has struck out 185 batters in 157.1 innings.
Milwaukee is 16-10 when he gets the ball, and he has allowed three runs or fewer in all but three of his starts this season.
"It's so fun right now — winning and playing good baseball."
🎙 @Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff pic.twitter.com/QCKVCSCTqk
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) September 1, 2021
Like Burnes, Woodruff figures to be a factor in Cy Young voting this season.
Both Players Have Postseason Experience
As if you needed another reason to believe that Burnes and Woodruff will help carry the Brewers to a deep playoff run, here’s something else to keep in mind: Both players have postseason experience.
Woodruff has appeared in six playoff games—three as a reliever and three as a starter.
He has managed a 2.57 ERA over 21 innings while fanning 32 batters and limiting hitters to a .192 average.
Burnes, meanwhile, has also appeared in six playoff games—all as a reliever.
He has posted a 2.00 ERA over nine innings, holding hitters to a .138 average and .400 OPS.
It’s hard to find a reason not to believe in this duo.
Milwaukee could make some serious noise in October.
NEXT: The Short And Sad MLB Return Of Brewers Reliever John Axford