The Milwaukee Brewers lead the National League Central by 2.5 games. Despite the injuries, the Brewers have continued to stay ahead of the Cardinals. We covered five surprises thus far in 2022 for the Brewers. Now, we’ll address some players who haven’t met expectations to this point.
If the Brewers get more from the listed players in this article, the Brewers could once again run away with the NL Central.
Adrian Houser
Houser started out the 2022 season throwing well. However, things have taken a turn lately and have only gotten worse. Houser left his last start with right elbow tightness. He was diagnosed with a flexor strain but is undergoing more tests. Houser did undergo Tommy John surgery in 2016.
For the season Houser is 4-8 with a 4.72 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. In April, Houser was 2-2 with a 2.53 ERA, but has struggled since, including a 6.30 ERA in June in 30 innings. Now, Houser is on the IL. Hopefully, it isn’t more serious than the original diagnosis and he can return like Brandon Woodruff in his IL return.
The Brewers will place Adrian Houser on the IL, Craig Counsell said.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) July 1, 2022
Kolten Wong
Wong has been a bit disappointing this year. His batting average is down 40 points from last year batting .237, but perhaps more troubling is his defense. After committing just two errors last year, he already has eight this season in just 60 games. Wong is needed to get on base for a struggling offense. Hopefully he can get hot in the second half of the season.
Luis Urias
Urias seems to be getting back to being himself. Urias has battled the injury bug over his brief MLB career. It seems like he is getting on track following a slump and time on the IL. Urias hit three two-run homers in the past two series, but overall, it’s been a grind for ‘Wicho’. He is slashing .224/.312/.390. However, despite a pair of wo-run homers against Tampa Bay, Urias hit just .183 (15-for-82) in June and had a meager .602 OPS. Urias has just a 98 OPS+.
Since the 2019 trade
Trent Grisham
2020 / 2.2 fWAR
2021 / 2.2
2022 / 0.6= 5 WAR 3 year total
Luis Urias
2020 / 0.2 fWAR
2021 / 2.0
2022 / -0.1= 2.1 WAR 3 year total
— PadresFarm.BTC (@Padres_Farm) June 21, 2022
Andrew McCutchen
The veteran outfielder has been somewhat productive driving in 32 runs, but he is having the worst offensive years of his career. Despite hitting .249, McCutchen has the lowest on-base (.315) and slugging percentages (.372) of his career. In over 260 at-bats McCutchen has just 19 extra-base hits. McCutchen has a 94 OPS+ in 2022 with a 130 OPS+ for his career. If the Brewers offense is to reach its potential this year, it needs McCutchen to start hitting for more power.
San Diego entered the bottom of the 9th with a 96% chance to win.
They did not record an out. #Brewers win 5 – 4.
Jace Peterson cleared the bases with a game-tying triple and Andrew McCutchen broke his 0-for-32 streak with a walk-off single.
— Brewers Stats (@BrewersStat) June 3, 2022
Honorable mention
Omar Narvaez has had a major power outage this year with just three homers, but overall I would not classify him as disappointing. This was a bit of a difficult list to compile. Some numbers surprised me when diving in. Keston Hiura a 123 OPS+!! Hiura is actually having a decent year production wise. However, in a time where strikeouts are acceptable, Hiura doesn’t make enough contact. He strikes out over 50 percent of the time and in just 112 at-bats this year has struck out 59 times. If he can make more contact, he would garner more playing time. Hiura has a .223/.341/.455 and has the highest walk rate of his career. That makes the lack of contact all the more puzzling. Hopefully, Hiura can start making more consistent contact because when he has, the results have been good.
What do you think has been disappointing for the Brewers this season? Let me know in the comments.
8 Comments
Yeah agree and current roster doesn’t look like a winning postseason mix.
Not a fan of their offensive philosophy. It’s all or nothing…if they don’t hit homers they struggle. Do they even think about hitting to the opposite field? Do they work on hitting the other way in BP? It doesn’t look like it.
Where has Yelichs power disappeared to?
Where has Yelichs power disappeared to? Pitiful.
I don’t agree with McCutchens, he is at the twilight of his career. Does the author think Andrew was going to play like he did in Pittsburgh? As long as the Brewer management continues to use bargain basement acquisitions and hit below .250 as a team they will never win a championship. You have to follow the blueprint of the Bucks. Go out and get what you need.
I don’t know how you can’t include Yelich. A small improvement leading off, however, horrible power numbers.
Brewers don’t have a single batter hitting above .250 ! I’d say the whole offense is disappointing! Why, oh why, does Counsell refuse to ever play for 1 run? It’s home run or bust with this team. I think the whole offensive philosophy sucks with this group!! Bunt the damn ball once in awhile!!!
I think McCutchen was looked at to bring power and solid OPS. Never been below 100 and was at 94. Hopefully he continues recent ABs and can hit for power.
Yelich power being gone isn’t new. I hope he can get more back but if he can be Miami Marlins Yelich I think the Brewers would be happy.