This isn’t a list of disappointments. This is a list of Brewers players that the club needs more production from to have a successful season.
For instance, Joey Wiemer isn’t having a great year number-wise. However, did the Brewers really expect a huge year from him? No.
There are simply some Brewers players whose expectations are higher. Who are some players the Brewers need more from to have a successful season? Let’s take a look.
5 Brewers Players Milwaukee Needs More From This Season
Willy Adames (SS)
The player guy on the list that the Brewers need more consistent production from is Willy Adames. Adames provides big power out of the shortstop position. He has hit the most home runs as a shortstop since being traded to the Brewers in 2019.
This year, though, he is hitting barely over .200 at .208 and has an OPS of just .675. His on-base percentage is below .300, and the Brewers’ shortstop hasn’t done much since May. While the power is nice with 10 homers, we need more consistent hitting from one of the top Brewers players.
As a difference maker in the lineup, the Brewers need more from Adames. Christian Yelich isn’t the power threat he was in his top seasons. Adames doesn’t need to be a .250-hitter even, but he has to hit for a higher average and be more consistent – much more – than he has been in 2023.
April ▶️May stats
Adames .237 BA/.779 OPS ▶️ .165 BA/.538 OPS
Tellez 8 hr/20 RBI ▶️ 4 hr/6 RBI
Contreras .297 BA/.793 OPS ▶️ .186 BA/.674 OPS
Anderson 20 RBI ▶️ 8 RBI
Brewers runs scored 128 (27 games) ▶️ 77 (22 games)
— Tyler Koerth (@TylerKoerth) May 26, 2023
Jesse Winker (DH)
The lack of power from this spot really is astounding for Milwaukee. Neither Winker nor Luke Voit – who was DFA in May – have hit a homer this season in 172 combined at-bats. Part of me wonders if WInker’s offseason neck surgeries haven’t zapped his power almost completely. Winker started the season well, but it’s been a dreadful year overall. Winker’s slash line is .204/.315/.231.
The .231 slugging is telling as he hasn’t hit the ball with any authority this season, with just three extra-base hits in 108 at-bats. Winker recently was placed on the IL (neck), but you have to wonder how many at-bats he will get if anyone has success in the DH spot from the left side like the recently promoted Jon Singleton.
Jesse Winker hasn’t hit a fly ball of at least 100 MPH since April 7th
— ????? ? (@SaladinoWRLD) May 24, 2023
However, looking at Voit’s numbers in limited at-bats should make Winker feel better. Voit was brought in to provide power from the right side vs. LHP, and he simply didn’t provide it. Voit had just three extra-base hits in 68 at-bats without a homer. The bottom line is the Brewers need their designated hitter to hit. Hopefully, Singleton can bring the power boost the Brewers need.
Eric Lauer (SP)
With the injuries to the starting rotation – Aaron Ashby, Brandon Woodruff, Wade Miley – the Brewers need its other stalwarts in the rotation to be good. Eric Lauer hasn’t been good, and he even has now landed on the IL. The lefty hasn’t been able to harness his ‘zoom ball’ this year, and the homerun ball has hurt him. Lauer was already demoted to the bullpen earlier this season for his performance.
Lauer has given up 13 homers in just 42.2 innings and sits with a 4-5 record, 5.48 ERA, and WHIP of 1.54. It hasn’t been pretty for the lefty, who has been very good for the Brewers the last few years. Lauer also has walked 20 in 42.2 innings. He has struck out 41 batters and given up 45 hits. Hopefully, the time on the IL will give Lauer some time to get things turned around mentally, which the Brewers player says has been an issue for him.
“It’s definitely hard to find that confidence when not a lot is going right for you,” Eric Lauer said. But the Brewers are in a position, said Craig Counsell, where, “We’re going to need Eric.” https://t.co/HscZHfWxMn
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) May 21, 2023
Corbin Burnes (SP)
Corbin Burnes hasn’t been poor this year, but when the rotation pitchers are out, you need your ace to be an ace. Having won a Cy Young, Burnes can be dominant. That’s what’s needed right now for the Brewers. He hasn’t been that. He’s been solid, but the Brewers need him to be elite.
Burnes is 5-4 with a 3.36 ERA and WHIP of 1.08. Burnes led the league in strikeouts in his Cy Young season, but he has struck out just 75 batters in 77.2 innings, an 8.7 per 9 IP rate. He has allowed 56 hits, 29 earned runs, and walked 28. But the concern right now is Burnes’ stuff has been relatively hittable compared to his dominant past.
Burnes has a FIP of 4.22 right now. In his Cy Young year, it was 1.63, and his BB/9 rate is nearly twice as high as his Cy Young season of 2021 (3.2 compared to 1.8). Burnes led the league in strikeouts last year with 243 and has averaged double-digit strikeouts/9 innings pitched the last four years.
Hopefully, his last start is the start of the return of Cy Burnes. Burnes allowed just two hits over eight innings and struck out nine without a walk, and picked up his fifth win of the year. The Brewers need more of that Burnes!
Tyrone Taylor (OF)
The Brewers were waiting for Tyrone Taylor to come off the IL to start the season and were hoping he’d provide a spark offensively. Taylor returned a few weeks ago, but it’s been a slog for him with the lumber since his return. With the pending return of Luis Urias, Taylor likely doesn’t have too much time left to get going because the Brewers have to find playing time for Owen Miller. Brian Anderson is also getting time in right field as well to keep him in the lineup.
Taylor was also recently placed on the IL with the same nagging elbow injury that kept him out much of the first month of the MLB season.
When he returns, Taylor has to start hitting to see regular playing time. Taylor, in 75 at-bats, has a homer and four RBIs with five runs scored. His slash line is .160/.179/.240, and the Brewers simply need more production offensively from a few spots, including Taylor.
Julio Teheran was pretty good.
The offense? Not so much.
Brewers shut out for the seventh time this season and third time in eight games, this time by a 5-0 score to the Giants.
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) May 26, 2023
Can Struggling Brewers Players Turn Things Around?
The Brewers had a rough May but are still atop the weak NL Central. However, to reach the postseason, certain Brewers players need to get going. It would also help if some others with expectations could reclaim past strong seasons to boost the Brewers’ playoff chances.
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