From Buster Olney's blog today:

Some evaluators have been stunned in recent weeks by how much Ryan Braun has struggled against fastballs. "Even in situations when he knows it's coming -- everybody knows it's coming -- he can't get to it," one scout said. "It's incredible." Justin Havens of ESPN Stats & Info looked at the recent data, and the numbers reflect what the scouts are seeing: A) Through Aug. 12, 38 of his 82 strikeouts (46 percent) have come via the fastball. In the past three weeks, a full two-thirds have come against fastballs (12 of 18). B) Braun hit .311 against fastballs on the outer half through Aug. 12, and has hit just .083 against those pitches since (one hit in 12 at-bats, with seven strikeouts). C) Braun has hit .213 against all pitches 93-plus mph in the second half, compared to .295 in the first half.

I know what you're thinking: Steroids! Or lack of them. After all, this is two straight seasons now where Braun's numbers have dipped below his career norms and he's only 30. I have my doubts that's the case. Remember, after testing positive for PEDs in the 2011 postseason, Braun led the National League with 41 home runs in 2012. Yes, that doesn't really tell us whether he was taking anything or not taking anything or simply eating a lot of spinach, but he hasn't tested positive again.

Braun's struggles in recent weeks are probably related to the nerve issue in his thumb, apparently the same injury that bothered him last year. "It is ongoing," manager Ron Roenicke told MLB.com on Tuesday. "There's times when he feels really good. You can tell it in batting practice, then he usually takes it into ballgames. But there's times where it's just sore and the swings aren't what he's used to."

Aside from the thumb injury, there are some other concerns with Braun's production. His chase rate on pitches out of the strike zone is 39 percent, 11 percent higher than last year and well above his career norms of around 31 percent. As a result, his walk rate is his lowest since 2008, down more than 4 percent from last year. Braun has never been the most patient of hitters; you'd think the thumb injury would perhaps create more discipline but instead it seems to have created more of a free-swinger. Of course, some hitters start expanding the strike zone as their bat speed declines, "cheating" on fastballs (see Albert Pujols). Again, however, is the bat slow because of the injury or his age?

Pitchers, of course, have been quick to adapt. Braun is seeing more fastballs in general and more inside pitches. And as Justin and Buster's scout pointed out, he's not hitting that inside heat.

As for the steroids, when Braun does hit a fly ball, he still has the power. Check his percentage of fly balls that have resulted in home runs through the years:

2014: 18.0 percent

2013: 17.6 percent

2012: 22.2 percent

2011: 18.9 percent

2010: 14.1 percent

He's just hitting a lot of fewer fly balls, 7 percent fewer than his career average. For now, I'm chalking this up to the thumb injury. (Here's a more in-depth look at how the nerve issue could be affecting Braun's hitting from Stuart Wallace of Beyond the Box Score.)

As for the Brewers, with Braun struggling and Carlos Gomez out another week or so, it's getting desperate in Milwaukee. They've lost eight in a row and are suddenly three games back of the Cardinals.