Lately, the Milwaukee Brewers have been struggling in their games. They have lost six out of their last eight consecutive games, including a sweep by the Colorado Rockies and a current losing streak against the San Francisco Giants. Unfortunately, they won’t get any easier with upcoming games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Kansas City Royals. Is it time to panic or will the Brewers figure it out?
Is Hitting the Problem?
Out of all the players on the Brew Crew, only three have a batting average over .240: Rowdy Tellez (.248), Brain Anderson (.252), and William Contreras (.272). As a team, they have played 33 games with an average of .240 (ranked 18th in the league), hit 36 home runs (ranked 17th in the league), struck out 302 times (ranked 10th in the league), and have an average OPS of .701 (ranked 18th in the league). Overall, their hitting performance is currently in the mid to low range compared to other teams in the league.
Is the Milwaukee Brewers Lineup the Reason for the Slump?
Fans have noticed a decline in the Brewers’ performance after Garrett Mitchell‘s injury. There is a lack of energy in the dugout, and the team is struggling at the plate. Brice Turang, Mitchell, and Joey Wiemer initially led the team’s impressive start. Fans have also noticed that Craig Counsell‘s lineup choices can be puzzling. He chooses lineups based on the pitcher’s handedness, sometimes leaving out hot hitters. For example, in the Los Angeles Angels series, all three starting pitchers were left-handed, and as a result, Brice Turang, a left-handed hitter, did not start in any of those games.
How Can This Be Fixed?
The MLB season is full of highs and lows, which every team experiences. The Milwaukee Brewers made a conscious effort to improve their hitting during the offseason, but their below-average performance from 2022 is carried over into 2023. Rather than benching hot hitters based on the opposing pitcher, keeping them in the lineup may be better. In addition, benching players can disrupt their momentum at the plate. Fans are hoping for a strong postseason showing from the team, but at this point, they appear to be the same as they were in 2022.
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