Brewers: Suter’s 2020 Performance Has Earned Him a Start In the Playoffs

Even though he only made four starts for the Brewers in 2020, Brent Suter’s performance in them has earned him a playoff start.

After taking a couple weeks to settle in, the Brewers rotation largely became one of the more steady units on the team. Now, after recent events, Milwaukee could all of a sudden be hurting when it comes to starting pitchers for the postseason.

Brett Anderson left the mound during the Brewers’ final regular season game in the third inning. Anderson started the 2020 season on the injured list with a blister. History sadly repeated itself, and he left the game for the same reason.

Corbin Burnes currently has an oblique strain and is on the injured list. He won’t be available until the second series at the earliest. Brandon Woodruff just pitched on Saturday and Wednesday might be too early of a turnaround.

So, who does that leave to start Game 1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers? Signs are pointing to Brent Suter.

Brent Suter’s 2020

Suter ended the regular season with a record of 2-0 and ERA of 3.13. He played in 16 games and had four starts over 31 and 2/3rd innings.

Suter has mostly been a reliever since his Tommy John surgery in early 2019. Before that, though, he was a starter for the Brewers during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

The Raptor’s first start of the 2020 season was on August 31st. Suter went three innings, had three strike outs and gave up only one hit. Unfortunately, that hit was a two run homer after giving up a walk.

As a starter, that was the only game he gave up a run. On September 12th, Suter went three scoreless innings with one hit and six strike outs. On September 16th, he went three scoreless innings again, allowing two hits, two walks and striking out three. It was the second game of a double-header that day.

His last start was on September 25th. Suter went four scoreless innings in his longest start and outing of the year. He gave up only two hits, one walk and had four strikeouts during the first game of another double-header.

With the current injuries and how it is lining up, Suter is a prime candidate to get the start against the Dodgers. He could easily go five innings and keep the Brewers in the game against a dangerous Dodgers offense.

Other Possible Options

The first option would be Josh Lindblom. Lindblom’s last game was Friday as he pitched the second game of the double-header. It was not a great outing for Lindblom, who left in the third inning after one out and allowing three runs. But, with Woodruff almost a lock for pitching on Thursday for Game 2, the Brewers will probably go with Suter or Lindblom.

I was going to say Freddy Peralta, but he pitched the final regular season game on Sunday and would not be ready to start, though he could possibly start Game 3 or later in a longer playoff series.

That pretty much leaves Eric Lauer. What if all along, the Milwaukee Brewers traded Trent Grisham and Zach Davies for Luis Urias and Eric Lauer just in case the Brewers faced the Dodgers?

All joking aside, Lauer has been lights out against Los Angeles during his career. He has a 4-0 record and a 2.11 ERA. Dodgers fans know the name of Eric Lauer, and it would be a surprise, but not shocking to see him start or get several innings during the playoff series.

The bottom line is, Brent Suter has definitely earned a spot to start in the 2020 post season for the Milwaukee Brewers. It might be Game 1, or it might be Game 3. But, do not be surprised if Suter takes the mound this week against the Dodgers.

The 2019 September NL Reliever of the month can help the Crew make it to the second round of the new MLB Playoffs format. And he should do that in the form of a Brewers postseason start.