The Milwaukee Brewers are enjoying a fun 2021 season, and it looks like the club is well on its way to a division title.
The National League Central is Milwaukee’s division to lose, and barring something expected, the Brewers should be able to coast their way to a playoff berth without any stress.
Very rarely does a team essentially have a division race wrapped up before the end of July, but it looks the Brewers have done just that.
Today, we’re going to break down how Milwaukee got itself into such a favorable spot.
Let’s get started.
3. The NL Central Is Very Forgiving
The Brewers are no doubt having a great season, but they have benefited greatly from an extremely weak NL Central division.
If you were to throw the Brewers into the National League West, for example, they’d find themselves in third place and fighting for a Wild Card bid.
But that’s not the case.
Rather, the Brewers are in a division with just one other winning team—the Cincinnati Reds—and the difference between those two clubs is seven full games.
Milwaukee deserves tons of credit for taking advantage of the weak division, but there is no denying that the team would be in a much different position if not for the fortunate circumstances.
2. Surprise Seasons From Willy Adames, Kolten Wong and Omar Narvaez Have Been Key
Collectively, Willy Adames, Kolten Wong, and Omar Narvaez have accumulated 7.9 WAR so far.
No one could have seen that coming, and it has been especially crucial in a year where Christian Yelich hasn’t played his best baseball.
Adames leads the team with a WAR of 3.6, although some of that production came during his time with the Tampa Bay Rays at the start of the season.
The Brewers acquired Adames from Tampa Bay in a four-player trade back in May.
To say the deal has been a win for the Brewers would be an understatement.
As a Brewer, Adames is batting .314 with a .976 OPS and 161 OPS+.
He has 11 home runs and 16 doubles in 51 games.
What an addition.
Willie Adames talks about his great hitting as a #Brewer pic.twitter.com/4HtTw4w5qI
— Kevin Barral (@kevin_barral) June 20, 2021
Then you’ve got Wong, who is having the best season of his career.
In his first season in a Brewers uniform, he is batting .298 with an OPS of .838.
On top of that, he adds some elite defense at second base.
Again: What an addition.
Lastly, we need to give Narvaez his credit.
He was named to his first All-Star team this season, and it’s easy to understand why.
In addition to being the fifth-best pitch-framing catcher in baseball (according to Baseball Savant), he is slashing .293/.387/.455 at the plate.
He is becoming one of the best catchers in baseball right before our eyes.
Adames, Wong, and Narvaez deserve tons of praise for their campaigns.
1. Milwaukee Has One Of The Best Rotations In Baseball
Led by a three-headed monster of Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes, and Freddy Peralta, the Brewers have the third-best rotation ERA in all of baseball at 3.40.
Woodruff is having a stellar season, boasting a 2.04 ERA, 202 ERA+, 2.68 FIP, and 0.83 WHIP.
Big Woo has been so 𝗕𝗜𝗚 for the @Brewers. @SophiaMinnaert shares some insight into Brandon Woodruff's consistency and dominance. #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/hJv7TAwjWx
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) July 17, 2021
Burnes has been arguably just as good.
He has a 2.16 ERA, 192 ERA+, 1.32 FIP, and 0.90 WHIP.
And Peralta also deserves a hat tip for his great campaign.
He has a 2.39 ERA, 192 ERA+, 3.24 FIP, and 0.90 WHIP.
Having three starting pitchers each with a WHIP below 1.00 is exceptionally rare, but the Brewers can say that they do.
Additionally, Adrian Houser (3.97 ERA), Eric Lauer (3.83 ERA), and Brett Anderson (4.33 ERA) have all been solid.
It’s safe to say that this is not an area of concern for Milwaukee whatsoever.
NEXT: Is Brewers Closer Josh Hader Overrated? (3 Reasons He Is Not)