Milwaukee Brewers: State of the starting rotation

The Milwaukee Brewers have optioned Junior Guerra to Triple-A. This leaves an already depleted and underperforming rotation with only three healthy arms until Matt Garza comes back from the disabled list.

By the numbers the Milwaukee Brewers starting pitchers haven’t exactly wowed anybody. Outside of Jimmy Nelson and Chase Anderson the rotation has been a question all season.

Despite losing Anderson to injury in late June, the Brewers have stayed in the playoff hunt. Chase was off to the best start of his career and getting stronger every time out. In 16 starts before the injury, Anderson was 6-2 with a 2.89 ERA. His 8.47 K/9 represents the highest mark of his career.

Anderson is working his way back from his oblique injury. He should rejoin the Brewers rotation before the season is over. Wily Peralta, on the other hand, may have made his last appearance with the organization.

Hopes were high for Wily with Milwaukee. After spending twelve years with the organization, he was DFA’d recently. Results of his appearances this season can explain why. Peralta has been brutal on the hill. In the pen, or the rotation, he could never put it together consistently.

The time ran out for Peralta, but this should only be a blip in the radar for Junior Guerra. While it hasn’t been Guerra’s year, injury or luck are factors in his performance.

That’s what people seem to forget sometimes. Guerra bounced around the minors and other professional leagues for years. There’s a reason for that. He struggles to throw strikes consistently. Last season, he was getting better results and he showed he can get outs.

Guerra was injured on Opening Day, and after coming off the disabled list he has been inconsistent. One start he shows he can get people to pound that splitter into the ground. The next start he’s the one pounding that splitter into the ground. After posting a 4.96 ERA with a 5.69 BB/9 in 13 starts Guerra was optioned to Triple-A Saturday.

It has not been all bad for the Brewers rotation. After a rocky April, Nelson has been one of the best picthers in the majors. He has taken the ball every start and provided quality innings, for the most part. Without Nelson, this rotation would have fallen apart.

With a little more than two months to play the Brewers will need to stabilize the rotation. General Manager David Stearns and Manager Craig Counsell have a few different options. They could promote somebody from Triple-A, or use somebody from the bullpen. They could also look outside the organization for a solution.