Milwaukee Brewers: Is the starting rotation set?

The Milwaukee Brewers have decided on their starting rotation for the beginning of the season. Here’s how the team will open the year on the mound…

Who did they cut?

Yovani Gallardo got his walking papers and Junior Guerra will start the season at Triple-A in Colorado Springs.

Gallardo struggled early in the spring, but turned it around in March. He ended his spring season with a 4.73 ERA in 13 1/3 innings of work. He allowed eight walks and struck out 12.

Guerra did everything he could have to make the Opening Day rotation, but came up a little short in the end. The fact that he had an option remaining made the decision to send him down much easier. He ended his spring with a 3.15 ERA in 20 innings of work. He struck out 16 and walked only five.

Guerra should get the first call when the Milwaukee Brewers have an injury to their rotation or need a spot starter.

Who’s starting on Opening Day?

With presumptive ace Jimmy Nelson still ailing, Chase Anderson gets the call for the Milwaukee Brewers on the first day of the season. Anderson’s spring ERA was 5.74, but he struck out 10 and walked only two in 15 2/3 innings.

Who follows Anderson in the rotation?

Zach Davies and Jhoulys Chacin will work the next two games in San Diego after Anderson. Davies had a solid spring. He worked 11 1/3 innings, struck out nine and walked four. Chacin posted a 1.84 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. He also fanned nine and walked four.

Who earned the final two slots in the starting rotation?

Brandon Woodruff and Brent Suter will round out the Milwaukee Brewers rotation to start the year. Woodruff put up an unsightly 7.11 ERA in 12 2/3 innings of work, but he struck out 15 and walked only three. There was some concern that Woodruff could’ve been optioned to Colorado Springs, but he showed enough to keep his spot in the Major League rotation.

Suter will hold down the fifth starter’s role until Nelson makes his eventual return this summer. It’s not a guarantee that Suter is will get replaced, but that’s the way it looks right now. Suter managed a 5.40 ERA in 16 2/3 innings of work. He struck out 18 and walked five.

What happened to Wade Miley?

Wade Miley will stay in Arizona while he works his way back from a left groin strain. The rehab process will take about two-to-four weeks with a few games in extended Spring Training. He may take a trip to another Minor League team in the Brewers system to work a few games before he gets reevaluated. The Brewers may have a tough decision to make, but that’s at least a month away from now.

Next: Is Collin McHugh A Trade Target?

The Milwaukee Brewers end the spring with a rotation that features almost all of the names that were expected to be there. They never added any of the late-signing free agents, and will head into 2018 with most of the rotation from last year plus Chacin. The Brewers have a solid group, but it’s still unknown if they have enough in the rotation to compete for a playoff spot. They look like they’re well behind the Cubs and possibly the Cardinals on paper. The good news is that games aren’t played on paper.