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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 Brewers
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 28: Josh Ha der #71 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during Opening Day at Miller Park on March 28, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Josh Hader

Everyone knows that Josh Hader is one of the best if not the best reliever in baseball right now. He might have been able to get into the All-Star game on just his Immaculate Inning alone, but he has done so much more to be deserving.

His 63 strikeouts puts him easily in first in the National League for relievers, 15 ahead of next highest Kirby Yates. After striking out an insane 15.9 batters per nine innings last year, he has upped that even more this year to 17.9. That is just shy of two strikeouts every inning he is on the mound.

While striking out everyone in his path, he is barely giving up any baserunners. His 0.69 WHIP is one of the best in the league and his lack of walks has given him an incredible 7:1 strikeout to walk ratio. He is allowing more home runs this year that he has in the past and when people do make contact its often very hard hit and usually results in extra bases.

Of pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched this season, his ERA of 2.27 ranks 11th in the NL. After all, that is the most important stat. He comes into games and keeps runs off the board. He still keeps his versatility that this Milwaukee Brewer team has needed, being used as a more traditional closer this year, but still very capable of a two or three inning appearance in important close games.

Josh Hader is the best reliever in the National League by a lot of metrics and should be included in the All-Star team. A few guys have more saves, which should not factor into the decision as much as it does but that could push him out of a second straight All-Star appearance.

Next. Thames is a likely trade candidate. dark

My prediction is that Yasmani Grandal, Mike Moustakas, Christian Yelich, Josh Hader, and Zach Davies will all represent the Milwaukee Brewers as All-Stars this season with Yelich and Moustakas getting the starts and Brandon Woodruff missing the cut.

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