Brewers pitcher Josh Hader was on the precipice of history Tuesday, entering the game with a chance to set an MLB record with his 41st consecutive game without allowing a run.
Hader, who had tied the record of 40 games Sunday against the Padres, instead gave up two home runs to the Phillies, resulting in his first blown save since July 2021. The Brewers lost 3-2 to Philadelphia, snapping Hader's streak and leaving him tied with the Astros' Ryan Pressly for the longest scoreless appearances streak.
"The scoreless streak, that was pretty cool,'' Hader said after the game, per ESPN. "I was hoping to get another one, but it's baseball. It'll keep you honest.''
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Hader put up some ridiculous numbers during his streak. Here are four of the most impressive:
313
It had been 313 days since Hader had last allowed a run heading into Tuesday. He gave up a pair of runs July 28, 2021 in a non-save situation against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Since then, he closed out 2021 without allowing another run and continued his run for more than a quarter of the 2022 season.
Hader has grown and evolved as a pitcher, but he remains one of the most effective closers in baseball. He'll look to build a new streak moving forward.
32
Heading into Tuesday's game, Hader had converted 32 consecutive saves, including 18 so far this season. It was the longest active streak among MLB closers.
In a league where the closer is getting harder to find and teams are opting to close by committee, Hader is showing the value of the position. Brewers closers have blown eight saves when Hader has missed time this season.
11
Hader saved 11 one-run games over the course of his streak. The Brewers have had offensive droughts this year -- indeed, they're in the midst of one now -- but Hader has been reliable for them.
If Hader has been able to get in the game late, he's been able to slam the door shut. But as Brewers manager Craig Counsell said after the game, a player can only be put in that position so many times.
"Unfortunately, we could only give him a one-run lead going into that inning, and we paid a price for it,'' Counsell said, per ESPN.
➔ Hader's tough outing
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) June 8, 2022
➔ Failing to rally at the plate
➔ Alexander's solid second start
🎙 Craig Counsell | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/3dM73CDVN1
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65/16
Hader struck out 65 batters and walked 16 over the course of his streak, a 4.06 K/BB rate.
Hader is at 14.5 strikeouts per nine this season, his strikeout percentage is a ridiculous 43.5 percent, and his whiff percentage is 41.9 percent.
Hader has some of the most consistent stuff in baseball, and among grip-it-and-rip-it pitchers he's one of the few who has pinpoint control. That makes discipline against him exponentially more important, but also exponentially harder to maintain.
Josh Hader, Fastball/Slider Overlay pic.twitter.com/b4FDrhzOdJ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 30, 2022
.087
Sometimes, you've just got to go back to basics. Opponents hit just .087 against Hader over this span, and looking at his numbers you can see why. He moves his sinker all over the zone, doesn't hang changeups or sliders, and has thrown one fastball this season.
His movement combined with his velocity is what makes him so difficult to hit, and that translates to how hard teams hit against him. Hader's calling card is his consistency. He had a lapse in that Tuesday against the Phillies, but don't expect him to stay down for long.
"They definitely got to me today," Hader said after the game. "Tip the cap. It definitely sucks, but it happens.''
