The Brewers’ top four starters combined to start 127 games during the regular season in 2011 and they were 59-33 with a 3.64 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. But, in the playoffs, those same four guys have started 8 games in which they are 1-4 with a 7.46 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. Righty Yovani Gallardo is the only guy pitching up to his ability in the playoffs out of this bunch. He has started 3 games so far in the playoffs for the Brewers and he is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Righty Zack Greinke has gotten a lot of run support so far from the Brewers’ hitters. He has started 2 games for the Brewers so far in the playoffs and he is 1-0 with a 8.18 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. Righty Shaun Marcum has been absolutely pathic in the playoffs. He has started 2 games for the Brewers and he is 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. Lefty Randy Wolf has only started 1 game in the playoffs so far and he is 0-1 with a 21.00 ERA and a 3.67 WHIP. The Brewers aren’t going to make it to the World Series unless the starting pitchers get their acts together starting tonight in St. Louis.

Starting pitchers Shaun Marcum and Randy Wolf had rough first starts for the Brewers last night. They combined to go 0-2 with a 9.35 ERA and a 2.42 WHIP against the Reds. They got hit really hard as they gave up 14 hits (3 homers) and they walked 7 batters in only 8 2/3 innings for the Brewers over the weekend. The bullpen got overworked because of Wolf and Marcum and the Brewers can’t afford that to continue. Closer John Axford also got in on the poor pitching action for the Brewers as he was 0-1 with a 27.00 ERA and a 3.75 ERA in 2 games against the Reds. The Brewers really don’t have much backup behind Axford as the closer as Takashi Saito is getting old.

The Brewers have shut down 34-year old lefty starting pitcher Doug Davis for the rest of the year due to elbow problems. Plus, the Brewers wanted to look at younger pitchers the last couple of weeks. Davis started 8 games for the Brewers this year and he was 1-4 with a 7.51 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP. He has pitched in 119 games (all starts) in his five years with the Brewers and he is 38-40 with a 4.11 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. I see no way that the Brewers pick up Davis’ option for 2011 so he might have already pitched his last game ever for the team.

22-year old lefty reliever Zach Braddock came into this season as the Brewers’ #7 rated prospect according to Baseball America. He has pitched in 84 games (30 starts) in his five years in the majors and he is 12-12 with 1 save, a 3.62 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Braddock has pitched in 15 games (0 starts) so far for the Brewers this season and he is 1-1 with a 5.54 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. He does however have 21 strikeouts in only 13 innings for the Brew Crew showing his potential. The bottom line is that he will have to start pitching better soon or he will likely wind up back in AAA.

42-year old righty reliever Trevor Hoffman could be nearing the end of his baseball career. He has pitched in 21 games (0 starts) for the Brewers this season and he is 1-4 with 5 saves, a 9.90 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP. He has given up 28 hits (7 homers) and he has walked 11 batters in only 20 innings pitched so far this year. He has 596 career saves which has him only 55 ahead of Mariano Rivera of the Yankees who is showing no signs of slowing down. Compounding Hoffman’s awful pitching has been rookie John Axford’s fast start as the Brewers’ closer. If Hoffman doesn’t start pitching well soon I look for the Brewers to cut him loose.