Brewers: Constructing The Crew’s Perfect Lineup For 2021

Batting Ninth: SS Luis Urias

Nope, this is not Orlando Arcia. For this perfect lineup exercise, we’re going to have Luis Urias winning the shortstop battle with Arcia in spring training.

Urias got off to a hot start at the plate over his first month with the Brewers before a two-week slump to end the year soured his offensive stats. Urias has a much better pedigree as a hitter than Arcia does and that should help him win the job.

Yes, Arcia had a career-best season in 2020, and he made a lot of improvements, but his best season was just a 96 OPS+. His consistency improved, but there was still a lot left to be desired.

Urias hasn’t had a ton of opportunities at the big league level to be playing every single day, but when he’s done so in the minors, he’s been excellent. The Brewers believe in his hitting ability and his ceiling is just higher than Arcia’s.

Down the road, Urias could be a solid option to bat leadoff instead of batting at the bottom of the order, but with Cain still under contract and coming back with fresh legs, Urias will start off down in the nine-hole.

From here, Urias can help turn the lineup over and ensure there’s someone on base for Cain and Yelich at the top of the order to help drive in more runs.

More players being on base for Cain and Yelich is always a good thing. If the DH is back, which it will be for this exercise, that makes it easier for the Brewers to have guys on base for the top of the order. If the pitchers are hitting again, then it’ll be tougher.

Urias presents the best option for the Brewers to strengthen their offensive output and rounds out the Crew’s perfect lineup for the 2021 season.

There’s still a lot of roster construction left, and the Brewers will need to find answers at first base and third base. Cron and Franco look like the best options on the market and they make this list.