StaTuesday: Brewers' Braun keeps mashing vs. Reds

Ryan Braun is closing in on 300 career home runs. He can thank the Cincinnati Reds for a lot of those.

On Saturday, Braun hit his 40th home run against the Reds, the most he's had against any opponent.

If you think that's a lot it's because, well, it is.

Braun ranks 25th all-time in home runs hit vs. the Reds. Among the 24 in front of him, the careers of the vast majority occurred in pre-interleague play and/or pre-expansion days. Seventeen of the other 24 played in over 200 games. Braun made the list in just 149 games.

Braun has torched a number of Reds pitchers, hitting multiple homers of just six. Bronson Arroyo is his favorite. He's hit more homers off Arroyo than anyone else in his major-league career.

Braun has played what amounts to a regular season against Cincinnati, as well as division-mates Chicago, Pittsburgh and St. Louis.

In 149 career games against the Reds, Braun has hit .284/.358/.556 with 102 runs, 93 RBI, 23 steals and, of course, the 40 home runs.

He has arguably better numbers against the Cubs and Pirates (who the Brewers happen to be facing Tuesday and Wednesday).

In 149 games vs. the Cubs, Braun is hitting .335/.411/.589 with 109 runs, 117 RBI, 32 HR and 22 steals. In 148 games against the Pirates, he's at .300/.380/.524 with 114 runs, 105 RBI, 29 HR and 37 SB. He hasn't done as well against the Cardinals, but still owns 20 career home runs.

Dave Heller is the author of Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow, Facing Ted Williams - Players From the Golden Age of Baseball Recall the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived and As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns