Chicago Cubs will face challenges as young Milwaukee Brewers improve

Zach Davies

Davies is the type of pitcher you don’t see too much of in this day and age. A guy who sits in the high 80’s, and tops out around 90 mph. The 23-year-old relies on a solid changeup in the high 70’s to compliment a two-seam, sinking fastball.

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He also throws a 12-to-6 curveball in the mid 70’s. Davies compiled an 11-7 record last season with a 3.97 ERA in the 28 games started for the Brew Crew. When Davies hits his spots and keeps the ball down, he is as effective as anyone. But when he leaves the ball up, he tends to get hit hard.

Generally though, Davies does have great command and the ability to paint the black. The Arizona native induces a lot of ground balls with the sinker when he keeps it down in the zone. He can also field his position extremely well. Davies probably won’t add too much more velocity to his fastball. He’s got a very slender frame at just 6 feet tall and 155 pounds.

If Davies continues to command that fastball/changeup/curveball combo, he’ll have no problem having success in the 2017 season as the Brewers’ number two in the rotation.