Brewers red-hot rotation sets MLB milestone

© David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer didn't get the win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. But by not giving up a hit until the sixth inning, he helped the Brewers achieve an MLB milestone.

Eric Lauer: Thirteenth Brewers starter this season to allow 1 hit while working at least into the 6th inning. No other team in modern era has had more than 8 pitchers do it.

— Doug Kern (@dakern74) September 19, 2021

While Lauer himself has been solid enough in 2021, Milwaukee's pitching staff has collectively been an intimidating force of nature. So intimidating, even, that Cincinnati Reds veteran slugger Joey Votto said it is one of the toughest he's ever seen.

"I’m going to say it out loud: Personally, I think this is the best group of pitchers I’ve faced in my career," Votto said on MLB Network, via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I was a part of the team that faced the 2010 Phillies with the late Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels. On the whole, the entire collection of (Brewers) pitchers, this has been the toughest matchup I’ve ever come across in my career."

Milwaukee's success isn't exclusive to this season, with their recent campaigns showcasing their presence as an NL Central juggernaut. But while the Christian Yelich-led offense and the Josh Hader-led bullpen previously garnered most of the attention, the five-man starting rotation is now front and center thanks to Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff having two of the top-five best ERAs across the league.

The Brewers' rotation can't slow down now, especially with the postseason right around the corner. If the playoffs started today they would face off against the Braves, who they split the season series with 3-3. There is also the possibility the Brewers rematch against the Dodgers, who eliminated Milwaukee from the 2020 postseason en route to winning a World Series. 

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