He is, hands down, the best closer in Major League Baseball.
Left-hander Josh Hader of the Brewers hasn’t allowed a run to be scored in his last 40 regular season appearances dating back to last year.
The last time a team scored off Hader in the regular season was July 28th of last season.
He’s a perfect 18-of-18 in save situations this year and has given up only four hits in 17-and-two-thirds innings.
The 40 straight appearances without giving up a run ties a major league record that is also held by Ryan Pressly of the Houston Astros.
On the other side of the coin, outfielder Christian Yelich will be trying to hit his way out of another slump when his team hosts the Philadelphia Phillies in a series at home starting tonight.
Since hitting for the cycle in a game three weeks ago against Cincinnati Yelich has seen his performance drop off again.
After going oh-for-four with three strikeouts in Sunday’s series finale against the Padres his average has fallen to .218.
The metrics are kinder to his efforts at the plate. Yelich has a “hard-hit percentage” of 52-point-two and an “expected batting average” of .270.
The problem is, his hard-hit balls have been going right at the defenders.
If Willy Adames returns to the lineup, that could help.
