Milwaukee Brewers: New Year, Another New Opening Day Starter

It is officially 2018, which is good news for the Milwaukee Brewers. They can put all frustrations in the rearview mirror and focus on the task at hand.

As Opening Day creeps closer, the Milwaukee Brewers are approaching putting out their fifth game one starter in as many years. It looks like a clear cut picture for the job, but in the game of baseball assumptions are never a good idea.

The guy that more than likely will be getting the ball is Chase Anderson. It is not a huge debate since Jimmy Nelson is out and Anderson is affectionately known as “The Ace.” Should that be the call by Craig Counsell, then the righty will join some interesting names in recent memory.

Junior Guerra, 2017

Unfortunately for Guerra, he exited with an injury after three innings. The Brewers lost to the Colorado Rockies to start the year. This injury arguably threw a huge wrench into the starters’ season. After a breakout 2016, his 2017 numbers just didn’t stack up. He more than likely will drop out of the starting rotation completely.

Wily Peralta, 2016

The results of this game are worse than the year prior. The Milwaukee Brewers lost to the San Francisco Giants 12-3 with five of those runs charged to Peralta. In his defense, only four were earned. Either way, Finished that year with an ERA close to five. It was a 4.72 ERA the year prior that earned him the game one ball. At this point, Peralta truly was the best option.

Kyle Loshe, 2015

In the worst Opening Day start in recent memory, the Rockies bested the Brewers 10-0. Loshe did not help the cause, going 3.1 innings giving up eight runs. Things did not get better, as his year finished with a 5.85 ERA. It wasn’t ridiculous to thing that he earned the ball. Yovani Gallardo just departed, and Loshe threw fairly well the year prior.

Yovani Gallardo, 2014

This is the last Opening Day start for Gallardo, ending the longest streak in Milwaukee Brewers history at five consecutive starts. This year is also the last season the team won the first tilt of the season. The shutout the Atlanta Braves to take a 2-0 victory. The starter went six innings, giving up only four hits.

Other Notable Starters

It is worth noting that though Gallardo does hold the record for consecutive starts, he is not the man with the most. That mark belongs to Ben Sheets, who overall started six of these event. His streak broken up in 2006.

The only other pitcher in franchise history to start more than two Opening Day’s is Teddy Higuera, who took the ball from 1986-1988. He actually won every game he started.

2018

Common thought is that this honor will go to Anderson. but he will hopefully turn out better than a large amount of his predecessors.  With the return of Gallardo to the organization, he might be able to give some advice to the chosen starter.

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It is an honor to be the ace. Starting game one is something every starter should one day hope to do. Unfortunately for the Brewers, these guys have not proven to have the best track record. But, it is a new year and anything is possible.