Milwaukee Brewers: 5 Biggest First Half Negatives

Much of the 2015 season has been a disappointment for the Milwaukee Brewers, as the team has fallen well-below expectations. With the bad first half, here is a look at the five biggest negatives of the Brewers’ first half.

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1. Kyle Lohse

Lohse entered this season as the team’s ace and he greatly failed. Not only has he not been able to keep the Brewers in games, but his awful first half has also extremely lowered his trade value. In 19 starts, he has gone 5-10 with a 6.17 ERA. He has also allowed a league leading 128 hits and 74 earned runs. With the trading deadline approaching, the biggest hope is that a team will deal for him trusting in his veteran leadership and banking on a turn around with a change of scenery.

2. Matt Garza

Like Lohse, Garza has been one of the Brewers worst pitchers. While he has seemed to cruise during some games, the big inning has continued to be his worst enemy. Currently he is 4-10 with a 5.55 ERA. With over two years left on his $50 million dollar contract, he is looking like he will be very difficult to move.

3. Jonathan Broxton

Last season the Brewers got Broxton for nearly nothing and they are seeing why now. Instead of being a counted on set-up man in the bullpen, Broxton has been awful. He has struggled almost every time out and not been able to be trusted in any role. Though he has averaged over a strikeout per inning, he has been their worst option out of the ‘pen all year long.

4. Injuries

For much of this season, the Brewers have not been at full strength. Losing Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Gomez early in the season put the team in a much deeper hole. Though they are getting healthier now as they have returned Khris Davis and Wily Peralta is rehabbing, the early injuries seemed like a slap in the face to go along with the poor play.

5. Second Base

Many fans were excited that Rickie Weeks was finally out at second base, but for a greater part of the first half the Brewers got almost no contributions from the position. While Scooter Gennett has turned it on as of late, he vastly struggled before his demotion to AAA. As this position provided nothing, the offense really struggled to find consistency and to get going.

Next: 5 First Half Brewers Positives