Milwaukee Brewers: Jhoulys Chacin has struggled this year

After his first three starts, Milwaukee Brewers Jhoulys Chacin has struggled. How long will he continue to struggle? Can the Brewers afford to wait for him to turn it around?

Chacin’s contract & career

Jhoulys Chacin was signed during the off season to a two-year contract worth $15 million. The Milwaukee Brewers brought him on to add another quality arm in their rotation.

Throughout his career Chacin’s results have been up and down. He had one of his more successful seasons last year in San Diego. He posted an ERA just under 4.00 along with thirteen wins. The Brewers felt Chacin could be successful at Miller Park because of his high ground ball rate, which was about 50% in 2017.  Miller Park is a stadium that has not been very friendly to fly ball pitchers.

Chacin’s results this year

Through three starts with the Milwaukee Brewers, Chacin has not continued on his previous year’s success. In two out of his first three starts, he has failed to make it through five innings. He has pitched a total of 13 2/3 innings. He has an ERA that is at 6.50 and a WHIP hovering around two.  In addition to that, Chacin has as many walks as strikeouts.

No one will mistake Chacin for a front line starter, but based on his contract and where he sits in the rotation, better production is expected. The Milwaukee Brewers’ bullpen has pitched a lot of innings so far this year. If their number three starter can’t consistently make it out of the fifth inning, this only puts more pressure on the relief pitchers.

As the team’s number three starter, a few solid pitchers will be matched up against Chacin throughout the season.  For instance, he will not find it any easier in his next start when he takes on the Mets and Noah Syndergaard.

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There seems to be very little argument that the Milwaukee Brewers starting rotation is the biggest question mark this team has. If the Brewers are going to compete for a playoff spot, they need decent production from their first three starters.  So far, they are not getting it from Chacin.