Milwaukee Brewers: Spring season opener details

The Milwaukee Brewers take the field for the first time in almost five months on Friday. Thanks to split squad games, we’re getting not one, but two box scores to look at. Who’s starting? Who’s playing? Is anyone not starting or playing?

The Milwaukee Brewers will face the Chicago Cubs at home and San Francisco Giants on the road at 2:05 PM CT on Friday. Left-hander Brent Suter faces the Cubs, while righty Aaron Wilkerson starts against the Giants. The Brewers / Cubs game will be broadcast on FSWI.

How important are the starts for Suter & Wilkerson?

Wilkerson needs a solid start to his Spring campaign if he wants to win the fifth starter’s job. Suter is a solid bet to make the roster as a reliever if he doesn’t win a rotation spot. Of the two, Wilkerson needs a positive start to the Spring, while a good showing for Suter simply means he’s still in the mix. If Friday’s start goes poorly, Wilkerson could end up back in Minor League camp. That’s not true for Suter. The Spring opener is clearly more important for Wilkerson.

Who’s else is playing?

Christian Yelich is scheduled to make his unofficial Milwaukee Brewers debut. If you really want to see what he’ll look like in left field, he should start against the Chicago Cubs. Other than that, you’ll see the regular cast of characters start, and a lot of guys you’ve probably never seen come in after the fifth inning.

So everyone is scheduled to play?

Not so fast. Ryan Braun will sit out for at least a week to get more reps at first base before he starts there. Braun usually gets a late start to his Spring season to stay fresh for the first month of the regular season. He’ll follow a similar pattern in 2018.

Jimmy Nelson is the only player for the Milwaukee Brewers who isn’t full healthy. Everyone other than Braun should have the green light to play starting Friday.

Anything else I need to know?

Baseball is back. Isn’t that enough?

Actually, teams across Major League Baseball will wear caps with the colors and logo of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL to honor the victims and survivors of the shooting last week.

Next: Could Chris Archer get traded before Opening Day?

Keep an eye out for the Milwaukee Brewers third Spring Training game on Saturday. Shohei Ohtani is expected to pitch, and the game will also be on FSWI at 2:10 CT. While it’s great to see the newest Brewers make their first appearances, Ohtani’s debut is also an intriguing story to keep an eye on.