Jhoulys Chacín ready for biggest start of his career
By Tab Bamford
MILWAUKEE – Jhoulys Chacín will make the biggest start of his career on Saturday night at Miller Park.
Injuries nearly derailed that career a few years ago, but Chacín has found health, stability and success with the Brewers this year.
With Chacín, the Brewers have found an ace worthy of starting Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.
The Brewers took a chance on Chacín before the season started, seeing promise during his year in San Diego when he was working his way back from health issues.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell believes Chacín fulfilled that promise this year.
“You hear things about players kind of before you get them,” Counsell said of Chacín before Game 3 of the NLCS in Los Angeles. “It’s been fun to watch. It’s a thrill to watch competitors for me. And Jhoulys is a true competitor, he really is. And he’s out on the mound thinking of ways to beat you. We’ve seen it all year.”
“He’s got a number of different tricks in his bag, so to speak. And I enjoy that. It’s gamesmanship, it’s competitiveness, it’s creativity on the mound.”
Ready for Prime Time
Some questioned Counsell’s decision to wait to start Chacín until Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, a park that has given Chacín problems throughout his career. But Counsell wanted to have Chacín for a potential Game 7. That’s precisely where the NLCS is headed.
How a player is used by Counsell – and when – is an unknown reality the entire Brewers pitching staff has embraced in these playoffs.
“It doesn’t matter who is the hero, if it’s going to be Orlando [Arcia] or [Ryan] Braun or the bullpen,” Chacín said after his Game 3 win. “It doesn’t matter who does the job; unless we do the job and win the game, that’s all that [matters].”
Chacín acknowledged before Game 6 that he didn’t know if he’d get called out of the bullpen on Friday night. “It would be an honor for me to pitch in Game 7. I think it’s way more than what I dream about. And just to think about it, just [blows] my mind.”
Counsell stuck with his strategy so Chacín can get used to dreaming big.
Healthy and ready
Chacín made a National League-leading 35 starts in 2018, a career high mark for the 30-year-old Venezuelan right-hander. While he doesn’t care who gets credit for a big win on the field, he made sure to express his appreciation for the team effort that led to his durable season.
“I’ve been able to stay healthy because all the guys in the clubhouse help me,” he said. “The trainers, the strength coaches and everybody have helped me to keep my shoulder and back healthy.”
In his two starts entering Saturday, Chacín has struck out nine and allowed only six hits in 10 1/3 innings. He has not yet allowed an earned run in the playoffs.
If he can continue that success in front of a home crowd in Game 7, he’ll put himself in position to make another postseason start next week in the World Series.
Featured Image: Pool / Getty Images