Milwaukee Brewers: Four man starting rotation best for team?

The Milwaukee Brewers current pitching roster sets up best to use a four man starting pitching rotation during the beginning of the 2018 season.

General Manager David Stearns brings a heightened sabermetrics approach to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Furthermore, he has maintained he is comfortable going into the 2018 Regular Season with a starting rotation built around the Milwaukee Brewers current players if no valuable deal presents itself.

“We have a high level of confidence in our current group, Stearns said of his starting pitcher options in early February.

A shoulder injury has sidelined Jimmy Nelson to start the season and Zach Davies has reported an aching oblique. Therefore, the idea of using a four man rotation comes to mind.

It could end up being a viable option for the Milwaukee Brewers with their current personnel.

Sabermetrics taking the Milwaukee Brewers into the new generation

Milwaukee Brewers Manager Craig Counsell is one of only two managers in the history of the team to win Manager of the Year from the Sporting News. He is an advocate of putting players in positions to succeed and just letting them play.

“He’s a player’s manager. If you come in and do what you’re supposed to do, you’re not gonna have any issues,” Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw said.

A four man rotation in this new era of MLB analytics should not harken as many eye rolls. Baseball analytics enthusiast Brian Kelly tweeted about teams using a four man starting rotation.

"Not saying a 4-man or a 6-man rotation is thee answer.But I like that several teams are trying Something tailored to their personnel, Kenny tweeted."

Furthermore, the Tampa Bay Rays committed to a four man rotation. They think they can use relievers to handle fifth starter games for at least six weeks without issue.

Built-in off-days, make fifth starters less necessary. It comes down to player personnel.

Milwaukee Brewers four man starting rotation

The roster has near-locks of Chase Anderson, Davies, and Jhoulys Chacin. Nelson will join before mid-season, according to reports.

The Milwaukee Brewers also have several pitchers in spring training camp that can go multiple innings in a game. Those types of players such as Junior Guerra Brent Suter, Brandon Woodruff, Yovani Gallardo, a resurgent Wade Miley, and prospect Corbin Burnes could combine in any way to be a starter or a part of a bullpen fifth starter.

Parallel this to what is going on in Tampa. The Rays are confident a four man starting rotation can work.

“I think it is different, […] we have a lot of guys in the bullpen who can be starters,” Nathan Eovaldi declared.

Furthermore, the Milwaukee Brewers have a bench of position players that can play multiple positions. The team only needs a backup catcher to accompany Braun/Santana, Hernan Perez, and Eric Sogard.

That leaves room to keep 13 pitchers on the Milwaukee Brewers 2018 25-man roster. That helps if they want to use the bullpen on days when a fifth starter is absolutely needed.

Next: Ryan Braun and the first base project

The team could always use their current personnel to compete and fill a five man rotation and traditional bullpen. But, the Brewers could also use their roster strength and try a four man rotation like the Tampa Rays.