Reds vs Brewers: Preview, pitching matchups and prediction

The Brewers will be tough on the Reds hitters

Any bullpen with Josh Hader (more on him later) at the back end will garner opposing team’s attention. Entering play Sunday, the Milwaukee Brewers (11-15) relief corps leads the NL in strikeouts by a wide margin and the aforementioned Hader is receiving plenty of help. One of those sources of help is from a young arm who appears to be reaching his potential.

Despite being just 24-years old, Freddy Peralta is spending his third season as a member of the Milwaukee pitching staff. Coming off a season in which he accumulated a 5.29 ERA in 39 appearances, the right-hander is becoming a force out of the Brewers bullpen.

Four times Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell has summoned Peralta from the bullpen and he’s more than delivered. Tossing 11 innings in relief, Peralta’s fanned a staggering 22 hitters while allowing just six hits and two runs. Unfortunately, for the NL Central, Counsell has found another righty to team with Peralta.

Rookie Devin Williams has been mowing down opponents in ridiculously easy fashion. Throwing 9.2 frames, the 25-year-old has whiffed 20 of the 41 batters he’s faced this season. Additionally, he’s allowed just four hits and one run. Milwaukee is on the cusp of building a Nasty Boys-like bullpen to secure victories.

The Brew Crew is fortunate the bullpen has been outstanding because the rotation has been less than stellar. Sporting a 4-10 record with a 5.03 ERA, Milwaukee starters have constantly placed the bullpen in precarious positions. No Brewers starter has earned more than one victory entering play Sunday.

As we mentioned earlier the Reds are the worst hitting team in the league and their closest competitor for that dubious honor are the Brewers. Hitting just .214 as a club, Milwaukee is also second from the basement with a miserable .298 OBP. The only two members of the Brewers’ everyday lineup with a 100+ OPS or better are Christian Yelich and Keston Hiura.