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Milwaukee Brewers: Why is Adrian Houser starting on Wednesday?

By Matthew Dewoskin

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 05: Adrian Houser #37 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Miller Park on June 05, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 05: Adrian Houser #37 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Miller Park on June 05, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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The Milwaukee Brewers are turning to Adrian Houser to start on Wednesday. Why are they forcing a successful reliever into a starting role?

Adrian Houser is set to start for the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners. Didn’t the Brewers have a ton of depth in their rotation? More starters than spots for the rotation? Houser has been solid in a bullpen role, but will that spell ‘relief’ for the starting rotation?

How has Houser been as a reliever?

Houser has made 14 appearances for the Milwaukee Brewers in a relief role. He owns a 1.05 ERA in 25 2/3 innings of work. He’s also struck out 29, walked 10, and surrendered one homer as a reliever

How about when he starts?

Houser has two starts for the 2019 Milwaukee Brewers, and both were rough. He’s only tossed six innings in starting role, and owns a 7.50 ERA. He has seven strikeouts, two walks, and two homers allowed when he starts.

What happened to the Brewers rotation depth?

Well, a lot.

Jimmy Nelson has been pushed to the bullpen, and Corbin Burnes has been pushed to the Minors. Gio Gonzalez still has a chance at returning before the All-Star break, but those odds get lower with each passing day.

Chase Anderson has also struggled recently, and Freddy Peralta last appeared for the Milwaukee Brewers in a relief role on June 20th, and isn’t currently slated to start.

The Milwaukee Brewers have a ton of options, and knew they were going to juggle the rotation to make it through the 2019 season. However, no one expected Peralta and Burnes to struggle to this extent. They also expected to get more consistent production from Jhoulys Chacin. The team needs their starting staff to step up, take pressure off the bullpen, and eat up innings.

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Houser has proven that he can handle a Major League relief role. It’s his time to prove that he can provide quality innings for the Brewers as a starter. He has the tools, but it’s a lot harder to work through five or six innings than it is for him to air it out for one or two. He probably won’t work more than five innings, and he needs to make the most of them. He’s earned the opportunity, but whether it goes beyond one start is really up to Houser.

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