FanSided

Milwaukee Brewers: State of the starting rotation

By John Geiger II |
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 26: Manager Craig Counsell
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 26: Manager Craig Counsell
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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.

CINCINNATI, OH – JUNE 28: Paolo Espino
CINCINNATI, OH – JUNE 28: Paolo Espino /

The Milwaukee Brewers could go a few different routes with a call-up. The obvious choice would be Brandon Woodruff or Paolo Espino.

Espino has been up and down with Milwaukee already a couple times this season. He hasn’t shown much in his 17 2/3 innings. With a 6.62 ERA, Espino has surrendered five home runs already. The only role he should fill should be in the bullpen at best.

He has been much better with Colorado Springs however. In 63 1/3 innings, he’s surrendered only 10 home runs along with only nine walks. He has shown he can get outs at that level. He should help the pitching staff in one way or another down the stretch.

The best bet would be on Woodruff. He was all set to make his Major League debut in June. A hamstring injury during warmups kept that from happening. He hasn’t wowed anybody since coming off the DL and playing for Colorado Springs.

In three games since coming the DL, he has pitched 9 1/3 innings. He is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA and a whopping .419 BAbip. Not awe inspiring numbers, but in 63 1/3 innings before the injury he sported a 4.12 ERA. His BAbip was still high at .303, but much more respectable.

Woodruff is a name to keep an eye on either way. He has good enough stuff to help the back end of the rotation now or next season. His presence will be felt in the Major Leagues soon.

The darkhorse candidate here would be the Milwaukee Brewers top pitching prospect Luis Ortiz. Acquired in the Jonathan Lucroy trade last summer, Ortiz has impressed this year with Double-A Biloxi.

In 17 games Ortiz is 4-5. In 80 2/3 innings. He has a 3.57 ERA and a solid .242 BAbip. He throws strikes at 61% clip, so he’s not afraid to attack the zone. His 72 strikeouts show a good ability to get the ball by the hitter consistently. He will get his opportunity. If not this season, it will come next year.

The situation isn’t as dire as it seems. These are only three options highlighted from the minors. A player could emerge from out of nowhere as this season winds down. One of these three could be that player.

PHOENIX, AZ – JUNE 10: Josh Hader
PHOENIX, AZ – JUNE 10: Josh Hader /

There are always options within the bullpen as well. The Milwaukee Brewers have a couple of options already available in the pen. Thankfully Michael Blazek is not one of them.

One of the more intriguing options is Josh Hader. He oozes potential. With his high 90’s heat, and the ball coming out in the awkwardest of positions, he is exciting to watch.

The problem with Hader is he walks far too many hitters. If he’s to have any success in the Majors, he will need to reign that in. The Milwaukee Brewers organization has been adamant in their belief that Hader will be a starter. This could be his chance to show it.

Another option is to stick with Brent Suter. He has been solid since joining the rotation. Both Hader and Suter are lefties, so they provide a different dynamic.

In five starts for the Crew Suter is 2-0 in 30 innings pitched. He has struck out 25 while only walking five. Hader flings the ball up there hard, while Suter evokes memories of Jaimie Moyer with his mid 80’s “heat”.

Without having the blow it by you stuff, Suter gets by on control. He’s shown, to this point, he has an ability to get outs. He may not be the answer for the future, but he can definitely be a stop gap.

The less talked about in-house option is recently recalled Wei-Chung Wang. He has pitched strictly in relief for Triple-A this season, and he has outperformed expectations. However, he has been a starter throughout his Minor League career.

He has made 62 starts in the Milwaukee Brewers farm system. He showed success, and an ability to provide quality innings. His first taste of the big leagues was forgettable. He’s had four years to build his confidence in the Minors and prepare him for his second chance.

One option would be to use two starters every fifth game. Use Hader and Suter together to get through six or seven innings. Then that could get us to our late inning guys. Right now that’s not an appealing option, with the current struggles of the bullpen. However, that has to be the goal for any starter.

TORONTO, ON – JULY 25: Sonny Gray
TORONTO, ON – JULY 25: Sonny Gray /

Most Milwaukee Brewers fans would like to see the team make a trade. There are a number of available options, but the price seems a bit high to this point.

Sonny Gray is at the top of everybody’s wish list. Even with his injury shortened season in 2016, Gray has been especially solid. His career ERA sits at 3.42 in 705 innings pitched. He’s gone over 30 starts twice in his career. In both occasions he also surpassed the 200-inning threshold.

That isn’t even what is enticing about Gray. He comes with still two more years of team control after this season. There’s a very real possibility he is just now entering his prime. Still, not worth Lewis Brinson, so the Brewers should take a pass.

Dan Straily is a name that has popped up recently. If the price doesn’t include Brinson it might be worth exploring this option. This season, Straily has a 3.84 ERA, with 107 strikeouts and 33 walks. He’s allowed a solid .274 BAbip, so he is having success.

However, for his career Straily has struggled. He’s had only three seasons with more than 100 innings pitched. Also, he’s only started 30 or more games once in his career. Straily comes with a few years of team control, but how many games can the Brewers count on getting from him?

Two of the less covered options come from the Toronto Blue Jays. J.A. Happ is a veteran lefty who has put up solid numbers in a career that spans back to 2007. He would provide a steady veteran presence to a rotation that otherwise has none.

This season Happ has been uninspiring. Sporting a 4.15 ERA in 78 innings over 14 starts. However, he has struck out 70 batters. He’s also shown good control walking only 23. He could provide a jolt for the rotation plus having a lefty would help a lot.

The other Blue Jay is Francisco Liriano. Another lefty with plenty of years at the Major League level. This year he has struggled to the tune of a 5.88 ERA in only 82 2/3 innings pitched. A change of scenery may be good for him.

Coming to Milwaukee would be a return to familiar grounds for Liriano. Having spent 3 1/2 seasons with Pittsburgh, he’s familiar with the division. That type of familiarity would only help the younger arms on the Brewers staff improve.

Next: Check Out Out Trade Deadline Predictions

The cost for either one of the Toronto two should be low. Anything more than a mid-level prospect or two is way too much to give up. The Milwaukee Brewers weren’t expected to contend this season. Sometimes the best move is no move at all.

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