Milwaukee Brewers: How important is reliever Matt Albers?

Only 16 days remain before the start of Spring Training and the Milwaukee Brewers are finalizing their roster. They signed reliever Matt Albers to a two-year deal today.

Having a strong bullpen is the difference between a good team and a bad team. Matt Albers gives the Milwaukee Brewers a boost in the late innings. Milwaukee is going for it this season and Albers will help shore up the bridge to closer Corey Knebel. He’s not a big name reliever, but he has a track record of effectiveness. Albers put together a career year in 2017. Milwaukee needs him to replicate his success for 2018.

What Albers brings to the Brewers

First and foremost, Albers brings experience to an otherwise young group in the pen. He has pitched in 515 games over his 12-year career so Albers provides a wealth of knowledge for his younger teammates.

Albers went 7-2 with a robust 1.62 ERA in 63 games for the Washington Nationals in 2017. He walked only 17 while striking out 63 in 61 innings pitched. However, he did give up six home runs.

The Milwaukee Brewers will need Albers to have similar success for them to contend this season. Jeremy Jeffress, Boone Logan, Josh Hader, and Albers will help bridge the gap to the late innings.

Albers also has the ability to pitch more than one inning. He began his career as a starter and even made one start as recently as 2016. However, he will rarely be needed for more than one inning with the depth in this bullpen.

Next: What does the future hold for the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen?

The bullpen was already going to be a strength for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018. Signing Albers only strengthens what is already strong. The recent additions to the outfield will help Milwaukee defensively and signing Albers shores up the bullpen. Get ready Brewers fans, it’s going to be a wild season.