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

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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ST LOUIS, MO – SEPTEMBER 28: Nolan Arenado #28 of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds third base on his home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium on September 28, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

4. 3B Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies/St. Louis Cardinals

Third baseman extraordinaire Nolan Arenado had already done plenty of damage against Milwaukee as a member of the Rockies earlier in his career. So, imagine Brewers fans’ dismay when, prior to the 2021 season, he was traded to the rival Cardinals for not much more than a couple packs of baseball cards and a case of cheap beer.

Over the last five seasons, Arenado has slashed .302/.381/.604 across 37 games against the Brewers and has managed to strike out just 13.8% of the time. He also has the second least plate appearances (160) of any player in the last five years to hit double digit home runs (10) against the Crew.

Arenado’s overall resume speaks for itself. He has won a Gold Glove at third base in every single one of his nine seasons in the league, is a six-time All-Star, and has finished top eight in NL MVP voting five times. That’s exactly the type of player you don’t want to have added to your division.

Arenado did all he could against the Brewers during the Cardinals’ amazing September stretch, going 10-for-31 with a double and four homers in nine games versus the Crew that month. Luckily, Milwaukee was able to hold them off and ultimately secure the NL Central title.

5. SS/3B Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati Reds

This one is less about the averages compared to the others on this list. Reds infielder Eugenio Suarez has a slash line of .245/.347/.516 over the last five years against the Brewers, not terrible by any means but not over-the-top amazing either.

No, this one is all about the long ball.

Suarez has been even more of a pest at hitting dingers against the Brewers than his previously mentioned teammate Jesse Winker. In fact, Suarez has hit 20 bombs against Milwaukee since the start of the 2017 season.

That is six more than the next closest Brewers opponents, fellow divisional foes Paul Goldschmidt and Kyle Schwarber. And just to add insult to injury, Suarez’s 12 doubles against Milwaukee in that same span rank as the fifth most of any opposing player.

Suarez’s reign of terror against the Brewers may be coming to an end, however, which would be in line with his overall downward trend. Last year he went just 5-for-55 against the Crew with a whopping 20 strikeouts. Naturally, though, two of those five hits were a double and a home run.

Next. Ranking the 5 Worst Contracts in Brewers History. dark

It’s hard not to respect what these guys have been able to do against the Brewers over the last five years. It still would be nice to see them have juuuust a little less success in the future, though.