Brewers' Henderson Continues Historic Run to Start Career
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Logan Henderson picked up his eighth victory of the season in a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 22, delivering six more innings of one-run ball. The performance marked his fourth straight quality start and extended a remarkable streak that has defined his young career.
According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Henderson has never allowed more than three runs in 18 career starts, the second-longest such streak to begin a career in MLB history. Through those 18 starts, he holds a 2.38 ERA with 112 strikeouts and 22 walks.
NBC Sports, meanwhile, notes that Henderson has not allowed more than three runs in any of his 12 starts this year. He carries a 7-2 record and a 2.70 ERA into the Braves game, per that outlet, which also reports he struck out seven in the victory.
The Pregame Ritual
Before the game, Henderson went through his signature pregame routine — walking barefoot through the outfield grass and onto the mound at American Family Field, climbing to the rubber and mimicking a pitch. The ritual, which he began in his first full minor league season, is as much about mental preparation as it is familiarization.
"It grounds me," Henderson said, as quoted by the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "There's a lot of emotions you feel before a game. Going out and touching the mound, I'm like, 'OK, this is where I'm going to be in a little bit.' It's kind of comforting. It's freeing."
Henderson described the practice as a way to get "in the moment before the moment."
The ritual includes finding the right spot. He has a favorite mound at American Family Field, where he likes the dirt. That comfort shows in his numbers: in eight career starts at home, he is 6-0 with a 1.88 ERA.
Teammates and Manager on Henderson's Makeup
His calm, focused demeanor doesn't go unnoticed by his teammates. Jake Bauers told the Press-Gazette that Henderson's inner drive is palpable, even from a distance. Bauers relayed Henderson's own words: "[It's] because I want it bad, man. I want to try and win for the boys."
Henderson acknowledged the nerves that come with starting, saying he feels both "a certain anxiety" and confidence, a mix of feelings he "loves and hates at the same time."
Manager Pat Murphy praised Henderson's character, telling the Press-Gazette: "The impression I get being with the kid last year and this year is he's such a wonderful person and he cares so much about the team that he feels so responsible to his teammates that he competes that way. And it's so evident. Guys want to play behind him. It's really evident. He never makes an excuse. He never blames anyone else. That's why I love this kid."
Henderson is part of what the Press-Gazette calls a "young ace triumvirate" alongside Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison, each with their own mounds and personalities.
Season Trends and Metrics
NBC Sports tracks Henderson's season with several statistical showcases. In one notable outing, Henderson was "outstanding" in San Francisco, holding the Giants scoreless into the sixth on two hits and two walks, throwing 64 of 93 pitches for strikes while striking out seven. That performance left him with a 2.66 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and a 54/9 K/BB ratio across 44 innings.
In another game, Henderson gave up two home runs to Marcus Semien and Brett Baty, but both were solo shots, softening the blow. He went without a walk for the second straight time and moved to 4-1 with a 3.05 ERA over eight starts.
NBC Sports also tracked his durability and return from the injured list, where he dealt with a forearm cramp in a start that ended after five innings. Sidelined since May 22 due to a back issue, he returned to face the Cardinals and threw 68 pitches in his final minor league rehab assignment.
Head-to-Head with Skubal
In a separate matchup, NBC Sports noted that the Brewers might have traded Henderson to Detroit for Tarik Skubal had they been inclined. NBC Sports says Henderson came away with the win in that head-to-head, though some context might be reasonable: "It might not be totally correct to say Henderson outdid Skubal today — one got good defensive support and one didn't — but he did come away with the win in the matchup."
That outcome, plus his overall body of work, reinforce the Brewers' decision to keep him.
Outlook
With the season just beginning, Henderson will carry his streak into the next scheduled start — which NBC Sports listed as against the Mets at home. The Brewers, who have leaned on a trio of young arms, likely hope Henderson continues his efficient, effective ways.
According to both outlets, the data is likely to stay strong if Henderson's health cooperates. He has shown he can be calm on the mound, and his ability to avoid giving up runs in bunches has set him apart.
NBC Sports concluded that "it's so easy to be bullish on Henderson," underlined by the fact that he's fresh off a series of quality shows. The Brewers have a starter who, in eighteen starts, has yet to be knocked out early with more than three total runs. That's a stat they're probably happy to own.