If this is it for Brewers’ Braun, he’s exiting in style

There is speculation that Ryan Braun might retire after the 2020 season.

The longtime Brewers slugger has been a staple in Milwaukee’s lineup since he debuted in 2007. Braun is responsible for the majority of the biggest clutch hits in franchise history — the 2008 grand slam against Pittsburgh, the playoff-clinching blast that same season against Chicago and the three-run dinger against the (then) Florida Marlins to claim the NL Central in 2011.

And that’s just to name a few. In 2020, his 14th campaign in the big leagues, he’s doing it again.

Right on schedule, Braun is producing in September as the Brewers battle for a playoff berth in the odd 2020 campaign.

In the month of September, Braun leads the big leagues with a 1.307 OPS. Since returning to the lineup Sept. 4, Braun has logged five homers, two doubles, one triple and 16 RBI, all adding up to a 233 wRC+, meaning he’s created 133% more runs than a league average hitter in that span.

Goodness.

The Brewers have rode Braun’s coattails right back into the thick of things in the National League playoff race, as they’ve logged an 8-4 record in their last 12 contests and are tied with Cincinnati and San Francisco for the final postseason spot.

Coincidentally, the Brewers begin a three-game series with the Reds on Monday night. At least we know Brauny is bringing his bat.

NOTABLE

— The bullpens of Milwaukee and Cincinnati are just downright nasty. Milwaukee’s relievers currently own the all-time best strikeout rate in MLB at 11.98, besting the 2018 New York Yankees (11.40). Cincinnati is fourth on that list at 10.91.

— Teams have combined to smack 3.65 homers per game at Great American Ball Park, the highest mark in baseball.

— Milwaukee has stolen the second-fewest bases among MLB teams in 2020 with 15. It’d go down as the second-fewest mark over a season in franchise history since the Brewers swiped just 13 bags in 2009.