The Brewers have been without All-Star closer Devin Williams for the whole season so far, but manager Pat Murphy's group has still been one of the better relief units in baseball.
Trevor Megill has stepped in and been excellent as the team's closer, while Jared Koenig has also been a valuable Swiss Army knife out of the bullpen.
Still, it's the transformation of lefty Bryan Hudson that has been the biggest development for the bullpen.
Acquired in a January trade after the Los Angeles Dodgers designated him for assignment, he had a 7.27 ERA to show for just six MLB relief appearances a year ago.
Granted, the 27-year-old has been effective at Triple-A Oklahoma City for the Dodgers last year, so it's not as though it would have been a complete shock for him to be throwing the ball well at the MLB level in 2024.
Rob Friedman @PitchingNinjaBryan Hudson, Wicked Sweeper...and Sword. ⚔️ <a href="">
But he's been downright dominant for the Brew Crew this season, with a 0.84 ERA to show for 27 relief appearances. He's been equally effective against hitters from both sides of the plate, as lefties are hitting .130 against him, as opposed to .137 from righties.
Milwaukee's starting rotation has serious questions that general manager Matt Arnold has to address before the July 30 trade deadline.
If Williams returns from the stress fractures in his back after the All-Star Break, though, this might be the most dominant bullpen in baseball.
