Major League Baseball: Surprised By The Brewers?
How a Bunch of ‘Average Joes’ Are Among MLB’s Best
Updated Jul. 23, 2025 6:57 p.m. ET
Rowan Kavner, MLB Writer
Pat Murphy is fully aware of the surprise and confusion surrounding the Milwaukee Brewers’ impressive performance this season. The team’s manager embraces it. “It’s a bunch of guys nobody’s ever heard of,” Murphy remarked last week when his small-market squad swept the formidable Dodgers for the second time this month. The Dodgers’ luxury tax payments alone exceed the entire payroll of the Brewers, which ranks among the bottom 10 in the league. Yet, this group of what Murphy affectionately calls “a bunch of Average Joes” has reached the 100-game milestone with the best record in Major League Baseball (MLB).
These underappreciated players, often overlooked, strung together an 11-game winning streak—tied for the second-longest streak in franchise history—before suffering a narrow 1-0 loss in Seattle. This happened despite their standout rookie All-Star, Jacob Misiorowski, achieving his third consecutive scoreless outing among his six MLB starts.
Misiorowski has surprised everyone this season, shining brightly among a roster lacking superstars. None of their players rank in the top 40 for wins above replacement according to FanGraphs, nor do they have anyone with 20 home runs or within the top 20 jersey sales. None of their players have an OPS above .800 either.
After allowing Willy Adames, their leader in home runs and RBIs for 2024, to sign a lucrative nine-figure deal with the Giants, and dealing star closer Devin Williams to the Yankees shortly thereafter, their departure from big names continued with ace Corbin Burnes being traded the previous year. However, the Brewers do not replenish these losses with significant spending but instead maximize the potential within their roster. Following a slow start of 25-28 this season, they have won 35 of their last 48 games.
“When their friends go to Las Vegas and see, ‘The Brewers are predicted to win X number of games,’ you know what I mean, they hear about it,” Murphy commented, “and they love to exceed those expectations.” The Brewers have made six playoff appearances in the last seven seasons and won the division three times in the last four years, all while maintaining a payroll that has never ranked higher than 19th during that period. (This year, they are 24th.) Their competitive balance tax figure is projected to be about $100 million below the threshold. ta777 casino login Currently, they are paying only two players—Christian Yelich and Rhys Hoskins—more than $10 million, and they’re doing it all without Hoskins, one of their key power hitters, who has been sidelined since July 6 due to a thumb sprain.
Sal Frelick, their leader in WAR, strained his hamstring as the first half ended, yet the Brewers still managed to win their first four games after the break without him. William Contreras, their WAR leader last season and considered by many as the best catcher in baseball at the start of the season, is producing at a league-average level, though with the lowest OPS of his career.
Despite all this, the Brewers hold a 60-41 record as the trade deadline approaches—the latest point in a season since 1982 that the team has maintained the best record in MLB. This level of performance is hard to grasp for anyone who doesn’t observe them regularly or has been on the receiving end of their prowess. “They can really pitch; the bullpen is lights out; they catch it and play good defense,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted. “Overall, they excel at preventing runs, and offensively, it’s a dynamic team big wins. They may not hit many homers, but they steal bases, bunt, execute hit-and-runs, and utilize various strategies. I think Murph does an excellent job with these players.”
The way Murphy characterizes the roster might not do justice to their overall talent. While he acknowledges that the upper part of his lineup “hasn’t scratched the surface” of its potential, there are still seven regulars hitting above league average this season—only two teams can boast more. “Good teams have contributions from the lower half of the lineup,” Murphy stated. “I think those guys are contributing.” Caleb Durbin’s quick bat has significantly influenced the Brewers’ emergence as one of MLB’s leading teams this season.
One of the unsung contributors from the Williams trade ventured to Milwaukee. Alongside starter Nestor Cortes, the Brewers welcomed a 5-foot-7-inch prospect drafted in the 14th round in 2021 from Washington University in St. Louis. That player, Caleb Durbin, epitomizes the identity of this new club. He made his MLB debut on April 18 and has since established himself as one of eight position players on the team producing between 1-3 fWAR this season. “These guys have been told they can’t do it throughout their lives, most of them,” Murphy remarked. “So, it’s great to see them proving themselves.”
The Brewers may rank last in barrel rate and 23rd in home runs and slugging, but they excel in many other facets. They possess the third-lowest chase rate, the fifth-lowest whiff rate, and the fewest strikeouts in MLB. They feature in the top 10 for both on-base percentage and walks, and they’re wreaking havoc on the bases with the most stolen bases in the National League.
“We’re fortunate that these players are gelling, coming together, and playing with determination,” Murphy said. “Play hungry, and anything’s possible.” By working counts, putting the ball in play, and taking extra bases, the Brewers can exhaust their opponents. Their defense is equally strong, ranking second in outs above average to support a pitching staff that is fundamental to their success. Milwaukee’s pitchers stand ninth in strikeouts and are skilled at avoiding barrels, showcasing the second-lowest hard-hit rate in MLB. The Brewers have three All-Stars on the mound: Freddy Peralta, Misiorowski—who averages a 99.3 mph fastball—and closer Trevor Megill.
Yet, it’s the depth on both sides of the game, partly forged from the overlooked talents of other teams, that has enabled them to sustain this success. “The belief is there,” outfielder Isaac Collins shared. “Everyone’s playing freely.” Collins, who was selected by the Brewers during the minor league phase of the 2022 Rule 5 draft, became part of the Opening Day roster after an injury to outfielder Blake Perkins. Now hitting in the middle of the order, the 28-year-old ranks fourth in fWAR and fifth in OPS among all MLB rookies with at least 200 plate appearances.
Similar surprises abound within the roster. Quinn Priester, a first-round pick by the Pirates in 2019, had a 6.46 ERA in Pittsburgh before being traded to Boston last July and then to Milwaukee this April. The once-coveted pitching prospect now boasts a 3.33 ERA across 18 appearances (13 starts) with the Brewers, including a dominant outing where he struck out 10 Dodgers batters in six scoreless innings. First baseman Andrew Vaughn, also a first-round pick in 2019, struggled to realize his potential with the White Sox. When the 27-year-old was at Triple-A Charlotte, the Brewers offered him a new opportunity from their pitching surplus when Aaron Civale asked for a trade. Like Priester, Vaughn seized his chance. He was called up on July 7 and homered in his debut game. The Brewers have only lost once since, and he’s sporting a .943 OPS with his new team. casino ph
“A guy like Vaughn was figuratively stuck,” Murphy recalled. “He was on a team that wasn’t competitive, then finds himself in Triple-A, wondering ‘What happened 777 pub.cc?’… To have a chance to revive his career and respond the way he did demonstrates his character. bk8 login slot gacor microgaming”
The Brewers, ranking sixth in overall ERA and tied for second in starters’ ERA, continue to produce more quality pitchers than they can accommodate, giving them ample opportunities to enhance the team as the trade deadline approaches. Due to the depth of their pitching staff, Chad Patrick, an early contender for the NL Rookie of the Year Award, was optioned to Triple-A to make space for Brandon Woodruff, a two-time All-Star and the longest-tenured Brewer, whose return from a long rehabilitation for a shoulder injury coincided with the team’s hot streak. On July 6, the Brewers held a 49-40 record, four games behind in the NL Central when Woodruff made his triumphant return to the mound since September 2023. He struck out eight batters and allowed only one run in six innings of a victorious 3-1 game.
Two weeks later, the Brewers are sitting at 60-41, tied for the top spot in the NL Central with the Cubs, whose manager, Craig Counsell, departed for seemingly better opportunities a year prior, paving the way for Murphy—previously part of Counsell’s coaching staff—to take the helm of Milwaukee’s team. In his inaugural year as the manager, Murphy exceeded expectations by leading the Brewers to 93 wins, finishing 10 games ahead of the Cubs and Cardinals. While Murphy earned the NL Manager of the Year accolade, the Brewers’ season concluded prematurely in the wild-card round for the second consecutive year. Yet this underrated group is once again proving their doubters wrong.
“Many of them remember how last year ended, and they’re still hungry,” Murphy concluded.
What do you think about the Brewers’ unexpected success this season?
