SPORTS

Hot month not enough to save Brewers’ season

Jordan Schelling
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

This is the team the Milwaukee Brewers expected. It just came a few months too late.

After a mediocre start to the season, the Brewers entered Wednesday as one of the hottest teams in baseball. No team has won more games since June 23, and their 17-6 mark ranks second only to the Los Angeles Angels, by one loss. Going back over their last 30 games, the Brewers’ 18-12 record is third overall and tied for first in the NL.

The hot streak has been powered in large part by a much-improved offense. Over the last month, the Brewers own an MLB-leading .298 average and .364 on-base percentage, while their .463 slugging percentage and 127 runs rank second. They’ve also slugged 26 home runs and tallied 45 doubles, both second-best in the NL.

Gerardo Parra has led the way, putting up a slash line of .373/.424/.687 as one of baseball’s hottest hitters. He’s also hit five home runs, seven doubles and two triples, while scoring 19 runs and driving in 12. With just over a week until the July 31 deadline, Parra quickly has become one of the Brewers’ best trade pieces.

RELATED:1st-inning offense powers hot streak

Brewers pitchers have been similarly strong, ranking sixth with a 2.91 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .230 average.

There’s just one major problem: the Brewers still are far from contending for a playoff spot. Between their terrible start (16-34) and the toughest division in baseball, even the wild card remains wishful thinking.

Despite going 26-18 since May 31, Milwaukee has actually lost ground in the division race, going from 161/2 games to 171/2 back. They’ve fared slightly better in the wild card race, gaining two games and moving to nine back.

Much of this problem lies within the NL Central.

RELATED:Why are the Brewers so bad at Miller Park?

Over the last 50 games, the top four teams in the NL are the Pirates (33-17), Cardinals (32-18), Brewers (26-24) and Cubs (26-24). Since May 31, three of MLB’s top five come from the Central, with the Cubs close behind in eighth.

Make no mistake, the Brewers’ hot streak is a good thing. It improves trade value and increases fan interest in coming out to the ballpark.

One great month just isn’t enough to save this season.

Playoffs

The Brewers entered Wednesday’s game with 0.3 percent playoff odds, according to Fangraphs, and 74 projected wins. In their season-to-date stats model, the Brewers’ odds jump up to 4.2 percent, with a projected win total of 75.

Baseball Prospectus puts Milwaukee’s chances at 0.4 percent with 74 projected wins.

Stat of the week

6-2: The Brewers’ record in games pitched by Taylor Jungmann, best among the team’s starters.

Power rankings

Despite a hot start to the second half, the Brewers remain 29th in USA TODAY Sports’ rankings and 28th on ESPN’s list.

They said it

• Indians manager Terry Francona on his appearance in “Major League”: “It was quick, so I don’t think they are sending me any royalties.”

• Pirates manager Clint Hurdle on Carlos Gomez sliding and injuring shortstop Jordy Mercer: “I think if he’s on your team, it’s an aggressive slide. ... It’s a baseball play. It’s not a gentleman’s game, but it’s a baseball play.”

• Jonathan Lucroy on the Brewers’ hot streak: “No matter who we beat, a win’s a win. We could get on a nice little roll and make it interesting.”

— Quotes via Associated Press

Top tweets

Squared up

What’s Brewing

• Lucroy proposed an extension to keep him in Milwaukee long-term, but the Brewers weren’t interested.

• Mike Fiers, Wily Peralta and Francisco Rodriguez are among the Brewers drawing most trade interest.

• The Minnesota Twins are looking for a catcher, and Lucroy could be a good fit.

— jschelling@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @jordanschelling.