Brewers’ Smoak turning things around at the plate

Don’t look now, but Justin Smoak is heating up.

Signed by the Milwaukee Brewers in the offseason, Smoak was expected to split time at first base with, likely, Ryan Braun in 2020. But the addition of the designated hitter in this shortened season has left Smoak as the everyday first baseman.

Smoak, like most of the Brewers, got off to a slow start this season, batting just .128 in his first 11 games.

But in the last week, Smoak has picked things up.

In his last seven games, Smoak is 9-for-23 (.310) with four doubles, a home run (.552 slugging percentage), three runs and six RBI.

He’s had three multiple-hit games in the past week, accounting for seven hits in total. In his first 11 games, Smoak had only five hits.

Another player who has turned things around is Corbin Burnes, Tuesday’s starter against Minnesota. A key reason why is his production with his four-seam fastball.

In 2019, Burnes threw his four-seamer at an average of 95.2 mph and opposing batters ended up with a .425 average and 1.319 OPS against that pitch, with a hard-hit percentage of 47.4%. It’s no coincidence Burnes’ finished the season with an 8.82 ERA and 1.837 WHIP in 49 innings.

Fast forward to 2020 and Burnes is throwing his four-seam fastball a bit hard – 96.1 mph – and having a lot more success.

Opponents are hitting .238 against Burnes’ four-seamer so far this season with an .884 OPS and 41.3% hard-hit percentage. Entering Tuesday’s game, Burnes has a 3.38 ERA and 1.188 WHP in 16 innings.

Here’s some more good news: The Twins have a .759 OPS against four-seam fastballs this season, which is fifth-worst in Major League Baseball.

Other notes:

— Eric Sogard is just one of three players in the majors to have a contact percentage of greater than 90%. He’s second in MLB at 91.1%, behind the Angels’ David Fletcher (91.8%) and the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts (90.4%).

— The Brewers and Twins have split their 12 games at Target Field since 2015.

— Minnesota’s Eddie Rosario has the second-most homers in interleague play since 2017 (19). Speaking of home runs, 40-year-old Twins DH Nelson Cruz is averaging a home run every 10.25 at-bats.

Statistics courtesy Sportradar and baseball-reference