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Milwaukee Brewers: Cases for All-Star candidates

By Kenny Jilek

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 16: Yasmani Grandal #10 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates with Mike Moustakas #11 after he hit a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Brewers defeated the Phillies 11-3. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 16: Yasmani Grandal #10 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates with Mike Moustakas #11 after he hit a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Brewers defeated the Phillies 11-3. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JUNE 08: Zach Davies #27 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches the ball in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park on June 08, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JUNE 08: Zach Davies #27 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches the ball in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park on June 08, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Zach Davies

Zach Davies has been in the Cy Young conversation since April and has been completely dominant on the mound. As a small guy with a sub-90 fastball and a nasty changeup, he has been seen as a discount Kyle Hendricks for years, but this year the Milwaukee Brewers’ hurler has been better than his Chicago Cubs counterpart in Hendricks.

This year, Davies has channeled his inner Greg Maddux. His 2.41 Earned run average is fourth among National League starters and his seven wins ties him for third place. No, I am not saying that Zach Davies is Greg Maddux or that he is going to be a Hall of Famer or anything crazy, but this year, he is pitching with similar precision to the legend.

Davies’ advanced metrics would not tell anyone that he is having a career year. Hitters have the highest average launch angle they’ve had off of Davies, and the hard-hit rate, strikeout percentage, and walk percentage are all about on par with his career averages.

The difference has been in how he has gotten out of jams this season. With runners in scoring position, opposing batters are hitting .190 against him and an even worse .107 with runners in scoring position and two outs. When he’s gotten into jams, he has battled out with the occasional strikeout or a well-placed signature changeup for a double play.

Davies likely won’t be the starter for the All-Star game, but his low ERA and perfect 7-0 record will definitely get him in.

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