Milwaukee Brewers: Top 5 Left Handed Starting Pitchers In Team History

1 of 6

MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 21: Chris Capuano #39 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches against the Minnesota Twins at Miller Park on April 21, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

The Milwaukee Brewers have had a good amount of solid left-handed starters in their history. The top 3 are pretty clear, but the list of names behind them were harder to rank.

If you have been following the Milwaukee Brewers the past 15 years or so, you would realize the team has gone long stretches without a left-handed starter in their rotation. At other times, there were southpaws like Tom Gorzelanny, Chris Narveson, Glendon Rusch, and Manny Parra getting starts. Some of these lefties may have been decent for a stretch, but none of them would be good enough to sniff this list.

That being said, there have been some great left-handed starters in Brewers history. There also is a logjam of solid, yet unspectacular guys that could fall anywhere from #4 to #10. I think there was enough research done to get a pretty good Top 5, but debate is certainly healthy. There were definitely some tough omissions.

Missing the cut

I would be remiss in this space if I did not at least mention the incomparable Warren Spahn. This is a Brewers list, but Spahn is regarded as possibly the best left-handed hurler in league history. And he did it primarily in Milwaukee. The Hall of Famer made 17 All-Star teams, while winning an astounding 363 games over 21 seasons. That is the most ever by a left-handed pitcher. He needed to be mentioned.

The majority of Brewers fans know that Juan Nieves is the only pitcher to throw a no-hitter in team history. It was a magical night in Baltimore that was culminated by a diving catch by Robin Yount. Nieves did win 32 games in just 3 seasons, but after an arm injury in 1988 he never pitched in the big leagues again. He was only 23-years old when he made his last pitch.

Another name that is very familiar to Brewers fans is Jerry Augustine. The current analyst on Fox Sports Wisconsin telecasts had a very good career for Milwaukee. After being drafted in 1974 out of Kewaunee (WI) High School, Augie was able to pitch for 10 seasons for his hometown Brewers. He pitched on some very good teams, but was only a true starter for 3 of those years. He made his mark primarily in the bullpen, so he did not do enough to make this list as a starter.

There were some good names that could not crack the Top 5, but definitely did a lot in a Brewers uniform and deserve mentioning. They include Randy Wolf (it didn’t end well), Scott Karl, Bob McClure, and Brent Suter.

The final name to miss the cut was Chris Capuano. After digging deeper into the stats, his name was replaced from my original list. Cappy was a favorite of mine. I dealt with him a little bit during his playing career and he was always a stand-up guy. He was an All-Star for the Brewers in 2006 after an even better campaign in 2005. In that season, he went 18-12 with a league-leading 35 starts and a 3.99 ERA. He won 45 games in his Brewers career, with a 1.373 WHIP, and a 7.8 WAR. All very good numbers, but just not good enough to crack the Top 5.

Let’s start the list.

MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 24: Baseball hats with the current logo (L) and retro logo sit on display at Miller Park on April 24, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

5. Doug Davis

Years as a Brewer: 2003-2006, 2010

This selection was really about splitting hairs. Doug Davis had some very good years with the Brewers right before they made the playoffs. He signed as a free agent during the 2003 season. That move started to pay dividends in 2004, as Davis helped a young team with 12 wins and a 3.39 ERA. From 2004-2006, Davis logged over 200 innings each season with an astounding 103 starts.

Davis won 38 games with the Crew and had a career ERA of 4.11 and a 1.401 WHIP. Both of those numbers were slightly below Capuano, but the trump card in my opinion was his 10.0 WAR with the Brewers. Despite a fastball that wouldn’t break 90, he also struck out 208 hitters in 2005.

Davis was traded to the Diamondbacks for Johnny Estrada the year before the Brewers finally made the playoffs. We can’t hold Estrada against him, can we? Estrada would make a different list in Brewers history, but I digress. Davis did come back to play in Milwaukee in 2010, but that year just made his overall stats worse.

There was always a perception problem with Davis. He was a soft-throwing lefty with a slow delivery. He also had a high walk rate, that actually got worse when he left Milwaukee. He then missed out on the playoffs, which could have cemented his stay a bit more. His stats are just slightly better than the rest. It certainly was a close call.

MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 24: Baseball hats with the current logo, left, and retro logo sit on display at Miller Park on April 24, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

4. Bill Travers

Years as a Brewer: 1974-1980

I had to do a lot of research to slot in the 4th person on this list. I started watching the Brewers during their World Series run in 1982 at the age of 4, so the 70’s history is something that was passed down to me. I crunched numbers and then did what any good son would do. I called my father. Ron Kurtz is the man who got me involved with this beautiful game, but more than that, he helped form my love for the team from my home state.

He also helped guide me to placing Bill Travers at #4. However, the stats really could really have done it by themselves. He is 9th all-time in Brewers history with 65 wins and his sub 4.00 ERA (3.99) was impressive when comparing him to other southpaws.

Travers also made an All-Star team in 1976, where he went 15-16 for a Brewers team that only won 66 games. He fashioned a 2.76 ERA over 240 innings, while completing 15 of his 34 starts. It was a different era, but that stat is still pretty amazing.

During the final three years of his Brewers career, Travers also won 38 games for teams that would average 91.3 wins per year. As you will see later in this list, pitching competitive innings definitely raises your resume with me.

Despite an off year in 1977, Travers had a very good overall career for Milwaukee. He had a healthy 8.7 WAR and is 19th all-time in Brewers history with a 1.366 WHIP. Just like Davis, he left the Brewers before some great moments in their history, seemingly getting lost a bit in history. Not on this list!

MILWAUKEE, WI – MAY 10: C.C. Sabathia of the New York Yankees walks to the dugout after getting pulled from the game in the top of the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers during the Interleague game at Miller Park on May 10, 2014 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) /

3. CC Sabathia

Year as a Brewer: 2007

I really wanted to put CC Sabathia higher for all he did for the state and the franchise in 2008, but could not justify it for 17 starts. I contend that those high-leverage outings had more impact than any stretch in Brewers history.

The trade that Doug Melvin pulled off propelled the Brewers into the playoffs for the first time since that ’82 season. The fans really needed it and it looked like the chances were fading away until the big lefty took the mound at Miller Park.

He was traded so early, that he was able to start five games before the trade deadline. He was a workhorse, that pitched on three days rest for his final few starts, including one that will live forever in Brewers fans minds. It has been nearly a decade, but that day is still as clear as day. I was there as a working media member and still get goosebumps thinking about the Ryan Braun home run and the complete game by Sabathia in the win over the Cubs. Miller Park was a mess of emotion.

The team then had to wait for the Marlins to beat the Mets to officially make the playoffs, and the stadium lost it one more time. Nobody left Miller Park. And nobody was smiling more than the big lefty who put the Brewers on his back to break the long playoff drought. It was only 17 starts, but the weight of each one just cannot be measured.

The stats in those starts were phenomenal. CC went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA, with a 128 strikeouts and a WHIP barely over 1.000. He also pitched seven complete games (three shutouts), while also nearly pitching a no-hitter against the Pirates–which is still disputed by most associated with the team. Sabathia will be remembered in Milwaukee.

22 Feb 1998: Mike Caldwell of the Milwaukee Brewers at Spring Training at the Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix, Arizona. /

2. Mike Caldwell

Years as a Brewer: 1977-1984

The process got much easier for the top two LHP’s in team history. Mike Caldwell was a rock in the Brewers rotation for eight seasons after being traded from the Reds. As you can see by when he pitched in Milwaukee, he was a part of many great teams in their history.

Caldwell had his best season in 1978, his first full season with the Crew. He ended up finsihing 2nd to Ron Guidry for the AL Cy Young award. Caldwell went 22-9 with a minuscule 2.39 ERA and a league-leading 23 complete games in ’78. He went on to record 81 complete games with the Brewers, which is a team record that will never be broken.

The lefty from North Carolina did not stop there. He won 102 games for the Brewers, which is 2nd in team history. This included double-figure victories in 6 consecutive seasons. He logged over 200 innings in all but one of those campaigns, while keeping a low career ERA (3.74) and WHIP (1.284).

The Brewers won an average of 86.3 games during his best seasons, which again is part of the formula here too. He also won two games in the 1982 World Series against the Cardinals, that they obviously lost in seven games. In short, Caldwell was a tremendous pitcher for the Brewers and it would take somebody truly special to unseat him for the top spot…

1. Teddy Higuera

Years as a Brewer: 1985-1994

Teddy Higuera is the unquestioned best left-handed starting pitcher in team history. He is also probably THE best overall pitcher, as well. I only say “probably” since injuries robbed fans of seeing him truly dominate over long stretches.

Higuera pitched his entire nine-year career in Milwaukee, but he really only was his true self for six seasons through 1990. He actually started to get some nagging injuries prior to that, limiting his starts in 1989 and 1990. A rotator cuff injury in 1991 ended his season and effectively his career. After missing the 1992 season, he came back to pitch parts of the next 2 years, but he was never the same. The Brewers have been looking for the next transcendent lefty ever since.

The Mexican-born Higuera got a fairly late start, debuting for the Brewers in 1985 at the age of 27. They knew they had something right away. He went 15-8 with a 3.90 ERA, finishing 2nd in the AL Rookie of Year race. He went much bigger in ’86, making the All-Star team and finishing 2nd in the AL Cy Young. He won 20 games (the last Brewers pitcher to do so), had a 2.79 ERA, finishing with 207 strikeouts.

He followed up that great season, with another one in 1987. He increased his strikeouts to 240, while going 18-10. He also had a streak of 32 scoreless innings that season, which showed how dominant he could be. In 1988 he led the league with a .999 WHIP, while going 16-9 with a 2.45 ERA. He seemed to add something to his game every season.

More from Brewers History

Higuera finished his career with 94 wins, a 3.61 ERA, and a 1.236 WHIP. All of those numbers would likely be much improved if it weren’t for his injuries. As it was, his 30.5 WAR is still the best in Brewers history for a pitcher. And it’s not close.

The left-handed conclusion

The Brewers have fallen short in recent years partly because of pitching and not being able to develop top of the rotation starters. Furthermore, as you can see by this list, they also have had a hard time procuring southpaws in the rotation. There have been a lot of solid lefties, but nobody that has come close to Higuera or Caldwell for long stretches.

The trend will likely continue in the near future. The Brewers best prospects are all right-handed. In fact, they just traded former 1st round pick Kodi Medeiros to help acquire Joakim Soria at the trade deadline. In fairness, Medeiros was likely ticketed to the bullpen, but it just shows how hard lefties are to procure–especially for the Brewers. The best bet right now is fast-rising Cam Roegner, a local kid that is not a highly rated prospect at this point. He just keeps producing.

Davis Stearns has done a lot of great things since coming to Milwaukee 3 seasons ago. He certainly is aware of the lack of left-handed pitching in the minors and the big league club, which is something that could help the team greatly as this window of competitiveness begins to open.

Next. Top 5 Catchers In Brewers History. dark

Could Josh Hader become the next great one? He has seemingly become a fixture in the bullpen, but it could be an option in the future. Either way, it would be nice to get back to the 1980’s when Caldwell passed the torch to Higuera. Who will be next?

Home / Brewers History

Milwaukee Brewers: The Top 5 Left-Handed Starting Pitchers in Franchise History