Two deadlines ago, the Milwaukee Brewers traded for lefty reliever Andrew Chafin, then a member of the Diamondbacks. It didn’t work out, as Chafin posted a 5.82 ERA post-trade. Since then, he’s spent time in Detroit, Texas, and Washington. Now he’s headed to Los Angeles after his effective stint with the Nationals. Chafin might suit the Angels’ needs, but he isn’t the type of dominant reliever Milwaukee could use. That said, should general manager Matt Arnold take this pre-deadline move as a prompt to bolster the Brewers pen?
Depth is strength of Milwaukee Brewers pen
The Brewers have no complaints about closer Trevor Megill or setup man Abner Uribe. Both have ERAs in the 2.10s and strike out nearly 11 batters per nine. What Milwaukee could consider adding is another power arm for high-leverage scenarios.
The way things have come together, it isn’t urgent. Although he is also used in long relief, Aaron Ashby has closed out a few games. Now healthy – his season didn’t start until late May – he’s been one of the pen’s most reliable swing-and-miss guys. Helping to produce a 2.05 ERA, Ashby has struck out 33 in 30.1 innings while allowing just one homerun.
Leading Milwaukee relievers in innings pitched, Grant Anderson has been excellent (3.14 ERA, 9.8 K/9). Nick Mears doesn’t walk anyone. For that matter, he doesn’t give up many hits, either. Jared Koeing, a key arm last year, has been up and down but limited the damage in July.
In a more traditional long relief role, DL Hall, also out injured for the first two months, has surrendered only a handful of earned runs in 28 innings. Given low strikeouts, high walks, and a microscopic batting average on balls in play, however, he seems poised for some degree of regression.
The Brewers also have starter Tobias Myers working in relief. So far he’s given them two scoreless appearances.
That’s six or seven guys that Pat Murphy can call on. He has options. Saying that the pen lacks depth would be bogus.
Buttressing the back end is still a good idea, Andrew Chafin trade reminds contenders
But: if this team is serious about making a World Series push, it couldn’t hurt to go out and get another fireballer. Entering today’s game, the Brewers actually rank seventh in bullpen strikeouts. Looking deeper, though, their 400 whiffs puts them basically right between the last-place Royals and first-place Dodgers, compared to an MLB average of 375.
Notably, Milwaukee’s bullpen is 14th in ERA. They have figured some things out and moved on from less helpful options, so that ranking doesn’t reflect the current group in isolation. Still, the Brewers’ unit is probably closer to “above-average” than “elite.” In the playoffs, having a stable of dynamite relievers is a major advantage in tense, tight games.
Of course, flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski may later move to a relief role in order to stay within a rough innings limit and preserve his arm health. It’s at least a possibility, one that would certainly fortify the troops there.
Making an addition before then, however, is something to earnestly explore as the Brewers get set for what should be a riveting pennant race and hopefully deep playoff run.
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