Reviewing The Brew
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5 of the Biggest Brewers Killers at the Plate from the Last Five Years

By Matt Carroll

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 12: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a home run during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 12, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 12: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a home run during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 12, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 15: Jesse Winker #33 of the Cincinnati Reds in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on August 15, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Reds defeated the Phillies 7-4. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

2. OF Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds

As the Reds made a recent push of competitiveness over the last couple seasons, a few players have emerged as thorns in the Brewers’ side. The best of those players at the plate from an all-around standpoint has likely been outfielder Jesse Winker.

Winker sits second behind Freeman among players who have had at least 100 plate appearances against Milwaukee with a 1.013 OPS. His .322/.409/.605 slash line is certainly nothing to laugh at either.

Winker has really increased his damage against the Brewers these last two seasons, though. Over just 2020 and 2021, he has an elevated slash line of .333/.423/.667 while 9 of his 13 career homers against Milwaukee have come over that span.

Perhaps no one is more aware of Winker’s success against the Crew than Brewers starting pitcher Adrian Houser. After giving up a home run to Winker in each of his two starts against the Reds in 2020, he gave up a pair to the slugger in a May 21st game last season, a day that Winker finished 4-for-4 with three solo homers and a walk.

3. OF Bryan Reynolds, Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds is still pretty green in terms of MLB service time even compared to Winker, having only debuted in 2019. In that short time, though, he has made a quick impression on the league, especially against the Brewers.

Reynolds is the third and final member of the 1.000+ OPS club (min 100 PAs) against the Brewers over the last five seasons, clocking in at 1.005. He lags behind Winker in slugging percentage against the Crew (.585) but beats him in on base percentage (.420) and average (.340).

Reynolds had quite the year at American Family Field in particular in 2021. In nine games, the outfielder went 10-for-26 with a pair of doubles, a triple, a homer, and seven walks. He got on base a whopping 57.1% of the time.

That was just part of his overall bounceback season in 2021. Last year, Reynolds slashed .302/.390/.522, led the NL with eight triples, made his first All-Star game, and finished 11th in NL MVP voting. Brewers fans are probably already hoping Pittsburgh trades him away like some of their other top performing stars in recent seasons.

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