29-year old righty set-up man Francisco Rodriguez was led to believe that he was going to split save opportunities with John Axford in Milwaukee when he came over in July in a deal with the Mets, but that has not been the case and K-Rod is pissed off about it. That hasn’t stopped him from pitching well for the Brewers though. He has pitched in 27 games (0 starts) for the Brewers so far this year and he is 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. K-Rod has now pitched in 69 games (0 starts) for the Mets and Brewers overall this year and he is 5-2 with 23 saves, a 2.78 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Francisco Rodriguez now has 291 saves in his major league career which ranks him 24th in major league history. He will be looking to sign with a team that will give him a chance to close again over the winter as I see now way that the Brewers will pick up his option for 2012.

The Brewers’ starting rotation is a big reason why they are sitting atop of the N.L. Central by 8.5 games right now. 25-year old righty Yovani Gallardo came into this season as the Brewers’ ace and he’s lived up to it so far. He has pitched in 30 games (all starts) for the Brewers this year and he is 15-10 with a 3.71 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. 34-year old veteran lefty Randy Wolf has also pitched really solid baseball for the Brewers in 2011. He has pitched in 29 games (all starts) for the Brewers so far this year and he is 12-9 with a 3.47 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He has been using all of the tricks in his arsenal this year. 29-year old righty Shaun Marcum has stayed healthy in 2011 and the results have been really good. Marcum has pitched in 29 games (all starts) for the Brewers so far this year and he is 12-5 with a 3.11 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. 27-year old righty Zack Greinke got off to a late and slow start for the Brewers in 2011, but he’s pitching strongly right now. He has pitched in 24 games (all starts) for the Brewers so far this year and he is 14-6 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. The Brewers are also very happy with 29-year old lefty Chris Narveson who has been really solid as the #5 starter in 2011. Narveson has pitched in 26 games (25 starts) so far this year and he is 10-6 with a 4.26 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. The Brewers’ starting rotation should match up pretty well with every team in the playoffs, including the Phillies.

28-year old righty reliever John Axford has really been solid this year as the full-time closer for the Brewers. Axford has pitched in 62 games (0 starts) for the Brewers so far this year and he is 2-2 with 38 saves, a 2.23 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He has only given up 53 hits in 60 2/3 innings this year while whiffing 73 batters. He has been nails in August so far, working in 11 games in which he is 0-0 with 7 saves, a 0.87 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Axford is a big reason why the Brewers are opening up a big lead (9.5 games) on the Cardinals, as he slams the door when he comes into the game.

29-year old righty Francisco Rodriguez has been a really solid set-up man since coming over to the Brewers last month in a deal with the Mets. Rodriguez has pitched in 12 games (0 starts) so far for the Brewers and he is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He has whiffed 16 batters while only allowing 10 hits in his first 12 innings with the Brewers. K-Rod has now pitched in 54 games (0 starts) for the Brewers and Mets so far this year and he is 4-2 with 23 saves, a 2.96 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. The bullpen is really looking sharp for the Brewers right now.

The Zack Greinke trade might have got the headlines, but the trade with the Blue Jays for 29-year old righty starting pitcher Shaun Marcum has made a bigger impact on the Brewers this year. Marcum has started 20 games for the Brewers so far this year and he is 8-3 with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He has only given up 97 hits in 116 2/3 innings so far this year while 105 whiffs and only 36 walks, as he has been really effective so far this year. The Brewers hope that Marcum finishes the year strongly as they are in a dogfight with the Cardinals, Reds and Pirates in the N.L. Central.