April showers bring ... April power for Brewers' Thames

The cold much of the Midwest and Northeast has been facing thus far this spring has not been enjoyable for most people. But it hasn't affected Eric Thames.

The Milwaukee Brewers' slugging first baseman enjoyed a record-setting April last season and he's doing it again in 2018.



In his first year with Milwaukee, Thames hit 11 homers in April, setting a franchise record for a month. He's picking right where he left off a year later.

After going 0 for 4 in three March games, Thames homered in the Brewers' first game of the month, April 2 at home against St. Louis. He's since added four more -- coming in his last five games.

The 16 home runs in back-to-back Aprils is just two shy of the most hit in that month in consecutive years. Geoff Jenkins had 18 in 2000 and '01 in April. Ryan Braun also had 16 in 2011 and '12 while Jeromy Burnitz his 15 in 1998 and '99. And Thames still has over two weeks to go.

While Milwaukee is in New York this weekend to face the Mets, Cincinnati comes to Miller Park on Monday for a three-game series. Last season, Thames hit 10 home runs against the Reds.

Look out record book.

Other notes:

-- Milwaukee enters Friday night's game with a 5-1 record on the road, averaging 4.67 runs in those six contests.

-- Zach Davies is one of four pitchers with a winning percentage of better than .750 and an ERA below 3.00 through their first 30 career road starts (since 1920 with relief appearances disregarded). Davies is 16-5 (.762) with a 2.86 ERA away from home. The other three are Sal Maglie, Whitey Ford and Carlos Martinez.

-- Davies is 10-3 vs. the NL East in his career.

-- Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz is 0-7 over his last seven starts with a 7.40 ERA and .333 opponent batting average.

Statistics courtesy STATS and baseball-reference