Chicago Cubs: Milwaukee presents a big challenge in 2018

MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 23: Ian Happ
MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 23: Ian Happ
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(Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) /

While the Chicago Cubs have had their way with the Milwaukee Brewers so far this season, the Brew Crew could represent a challenge for the North Siders moving forward.

*Stats were done prior to 5/4

It is no secret that the Chicago Cubs were supposed to be a contending team in 2018. Coming off back-to-back-to-back NLCS appearances and a World Series title in 2016, the Cubs maintained a strong core of young players into this season.

Despite having that young core led by Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and others, the Cubs have gotten off to a somewhat average start this season, posting a 16-12 record through the first month of the season. The Cubs’ less than stellar start can be attributed to some key players not having good April’s. Right now, Rizzo is slashing .171/.269/.280 and that’s after hitting two home runs in as many games earlier in the week.

In addition to Rizzo, Yu Darvish, who the Cubs signed to a six-year deal prior to the season, owns a 6.00 ERA and has allowed six home runs in 30 innings pitched this season. Even with guys like Javier Baez and Kris Bryant posting All-Star caliber numbers, the Cubs trail the Brewers by one game going into play on Friday.

While the Brewers sit at 19-13 on the season, they are just 1-7 against the Cubs this season after being swept last week. Still, the Brewers are doing things in Milwaukee that is beginning to get the attention of teams within the NL Central.

Let’s dive more into what makes the Brewers a threat to the Cubs in 2018.

(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

The Brewers have stock-piled a nice core of young players

Much like the Cubs, the Brewers have a nice bundle of young, controllable players. That group, which includes Jonathan Villar and Orlando Arcia, received a significant boost this off-season.

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Recognizing the Brewers’ window to win was at hand, Milwaukee’s front office went out and added some pieces to help propel the team to the playoffs. One of the players added was Christian Yelich. Yelich was shipped to the Brewers from the Miami Marlins in a deal that included Lewis Brinson, one of Milwaukee’s top prospects.

Before joining the Brewers, Yelich posted some excellent numbers with the Marlins. In five seasons, Yelich averaged a slash line of .290/.369/.432 while hitting 59 total home runs and averaging 14 stolen bases per season. To go along with that, Yelich posted an OPS+ of 121 in that span while amassing a wRC+ of 132 in 2016.

While Yelich has never been known as a power hitter, posting a career ISO of just .143, the 26-year-old has posted above-average defensive metrics in the outfield, even winning a Gold Glove in 2014.

Brewers add Cain

In the same week that they traded for Yelich, the Brewers signed Lorenzo Cain to a five-year, $80 million deal. Cain, 32, showed no signs of slowing down the last few seasons. From 2015 to 2017 with the Kansas City Royals, Cain slashed .299/.356/.455 while averaging 27 doubles per season and 23 stolen bases.

Like Yelich, Cain does not hit for much power, having averaged just 13 home runs per season in that three-year stretch. Despite that, Cain owns a healthy .345 career OBP and .342 career BABIP, all while posting well-above league average defensive numbers.

Milwaukee has other young position players

The Brewers youthfulness does not end with Yelich and Cain. Travis Shaw, Hernan Perez, Orlando Arcia, Jesus Aguilar, Jonathan Villar and Domingo Santana are all under 28 years old and are ready to start impacting things at the major league level.

Shaw, the elder statesman of the group at 28, has already racked up six home runs on the year and owns a solid .331 OBP. Unlike the Brewers two outfield additions, Shaw hits for power, logging a career .473 slugging percentage and topping out at 31 home runs last year for Milwaukee.

Orlando Arcia, the Brewers shortstop, has also seen success in his young career. One of the younger players in this group at 23, Arcia clubbed 15 home runs last season, notching a career-best .407 slugging percentage and .324 OBP along the way.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

The Brewers’ pitching has performed well this season

After the additions of Yelich and Cain to the offense, many wondered why the Brewers failed to add another starting pitcher. A month into the season and it’s beginning to become clear why the Brewers held off on adding another starter.

Through 32 games, the combination of Junior Guerra, Wade Miley, Chase Anderson, Zach Davies, Jhoulys Chacin, Brandon Woodruff and Brent Suter have chewed up the 12th most innings in baseball at 169 2/3. The Cubs currently sit at 25th on that list with 155 innings.

While they may not be big names, the Brewers’ starters have posted a 3.77 ERA, good enough for tenth best in the league. Leading that charge is Guerra who is currently sitting on a 0.82 ERA and 0.95 WHIP through four starts.

Brewers’ bullpen has been great

In addition to the starters, the Brewers’ bullpen is holding its own as well. The group of 13 relievers owns the second-best K/9 in baseball at 10.53 while turning in the eighth lowest BB/9 at 3.36. To go along with that, the Brewers’ pen has amassed a left on base percentage of 77.7%, the seventh lowest in baseball while ranking in the top three with a 51.1% ground ball rate. To cap things off,  Milwaukee’s bullpen is second in the league with a 2.36 ERA just slightly ahead of the Cubs who rank third with a 2.67 mark.

Headlining the bullpen are two guys with ridiculously good numbers. Right-hander Jeremy Jeffress is sporting a 0.51 ERA in 17 2/3 innings this season. Also, Jeffress has amassed a 0.74 WHIP and has struck out 13 batters and walked just four.

The other man mowing down hitters out of the bullpen is 24-year-old Josh Hader. Hader, a left-hander, owns a 1.00 ERA in 18 innings this season. The lefty has allowed just four hits and five walks while striking out 39 batters. That means Hader is averaging almost 20 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, by far the best in baseball.

Also posting sub-two ERA’s out of the bullpen are Matt Albers, Jacob Barnes, Dan Jennings and Taylor Williams.

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

The Cubs and Brewers are set up for a fun rivalry

Right now, the only thing holding the Brewers back from building on their lead in the NL Central is their lack-luster performance at the plate. They currently rank 24th in runs scored, 22nd in batting, 26th in OBP and 23rd in slugging percentage.

Despite their offensive struggles, the Brewers have what it takes this season to give the Cubs a solid run for their money. Whether or not the Brewers can maintain their success on the pitching side of the equation without a big game starter remains to be seen.

What will be interesting to watch moving forward is if the Cubs can find their own way on offense and build a gap between themselves and Milwaukee. Last season, we saw what can happen if the Cubs decide to turn on cruise control like it seemed they did during the first half of last season.

While the Brewers failed to hold off the Cubs in 2017, the first half performance by Milwaukee proved the guys from Wisconsin can run with the Cubs.

Next: Chicago Cubs: 28 down, 134 to go – a look at the season’s first month

So far this season, the Cubs are dominating the season series between the two clubs. But yet it’s the Brewers that are ahead in the standings. While Cubs’ fans, myself included, hope that doesn’t last as long as it did last year, it will be fun watching these two teams battle it out the remainder of this season and many more seasons to come.

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