Brewers News: LHP Brett Anderson to Start Season on IL

Brewers starting pitcher Brett Anderson was set to start the second game of the season for the club. Now he will start the season on the injured list instead.

Even though new Brewers starter Brett Anderson was pulled early from his scrimmage start the other day when he developed a blister on his throwing hand, the hope was he’d still be ready to go for the regular season. Although it seemed like his blister was getting better, the Milwaukee Brewers announced that they would be placing him on the 10-day injured list.

Anderson has seen his moments with injuries throughout his career. Starting the season on the IL makes fans a little nervous as to whether he might show the same pattern of injuries with the Brewers.

While it hadn’t been officially confirmed as to who was going to be pitching in the second game against the Cubs on Saturday, it was discussed that Anderson was in line to have that spot after Brandon Woodruff, the Opening Day starter. Now that Anderson is on the IL, the second slot is up for grabs.

Who could be the second starter for the Brewers?

After 5 innings and 65 pitches, Corbin Burnes had another amazing performance in Game 6 of the Blue-Gold World Series for the Brewers. Adam McCalvy had stated via Twitter that Burnes is lined up for that second spot now that Anderson is on the IL.

In his attempt to bounce back from an forgettable 2019 season, Burnes has really been on fire. He spent time in the offseason cleaning up his pitches back at the team’s pitching lab in Arizona and the results are being shown on the mound.

Earlier this year in Spring Training, he gave up only one run and six hits with 13 strikeouts over 10 innings. When he pitched on Wednesday’s scrimmage for the Gold Team, he retired all batters he faced and dealt seven strikeouts. His progress has proved to be starting rotation worthy.

Who else might join the Brewers rotation?

With Burnes sliding into Anderson’s rotation spot with his performance on Monday, it still only leaves four pitchers in a rotation that probably needs five. The most likely candidate for the spot would be Freddy Peralta.

Peralta was originally battling Burnes for one of the final rotation spots before the latter started separating himself from the pack. Now that Anderson is out to start the year, Peralta is back in the picture.

There are other possibilities that manager Craig Counsell could go with like non-roster invitee Shelby Miller or a Counsell-esque mix of relievers. But the team committed to Peralta in the offseason with a large contract and have the long-term vision of him as a starting pitcher. It makes sense to give him a shot at it now.

It’s said that Anderson could be back as soon as the Brewers home opener against the St. Louis Cardinals. But for now, the blister has to heal and Anderson will have to get himself ready to join the rotation again.