Is moving one of their lefty relievers to the rotation worth the risk for Brewers?

Similar to last year, the Milwaukee Brewers may have their starting rotation depth tested early in the new season. Brandon Woodruff is uncertain for Opening Day, Quinn Priester appears likely to begin the year on the injured list, though another evaluation from a specialist could offer more clarity, and Logan Henderson is dealing with a familiar bout of elbow soreness.

With several pitchers’ Opening Day statuses still uncertain, only Jacob Misiorowski and Chad Patrick have been confirmed in the rotation so far. Pitchers such as Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, Brandon Sproat, and Robert Gasser are all competing for spots, while Aaron Ashby and DL Hall shouldn’t be overlooked as they continue to be built up as starters.

Among the group of potential starters, both Ashby and Hall may ultimately be better suited for the bullpen. Each has dealt with injuries over the past few seasons, making even a temporary move to the rotation a potential health risk in what would likely be a short-term role. They have also experienced greater success while pitching out of the bullpen.

Moving Aaron Ashby or DL Hall to the rotation is not worth the risk for the Milwaukee Brewers

As a result of early-season uncertainty in the starting rotation, the Brewers have been tempted to stretch their pitching depth, including building up the workloads of Ashby and Hall this spring. The move could simply be an effort to cover their bases in case additional injuries arise, but Milwaukee may still want to proceed cautiously given both pitchers’ injury histories.

Just last year, both Aaron Ashby and DL Hall opened the season on the injured list with muscle-related injuries. An oblique strain sidelined Ashby, while Hall dealt with a lat issue, delaying both pitchers’ 2025 debuts until late May.

Ashby went on to stay healthy for the remainder of the season, throwing 73 total innings between the regular season and postseason, including three appearances as an opener in the Division and Championship Series. Hall, however, was later sidelined again by another oblique issue, limiting his 2025 campaign to fewer than 40 innings.

Notably for Ashby, he maxed out at 3.1 innings pitched last year and reached the three-inning mark only twice. Most of his appearances required him to record six outs or fewer, and the approach paid off, as he posted a 2.16 ERA. He also recorded a career-high average velocity on his sinker at 97.5 mph, even surpassing the velocity he showed prior to undergoing labrum surgery in 2023.

It’s clear that the Brewers have found a role that works for Ashby, allowing him to thrive while pitching in shorter outings rather than logging heavy innings at a time. Hall has seen somewhat similar results, though not to the same extent -- his tenure as a starter with Milwaukee was brief, as a knee injury sidelined him for much of the season after just a handful of starts in his first year in the organization.

While early-season uncertainty in the rotation may tempt Milwaukee to explore every available option, shifting Ashby or Hall into starting roles carries risk. Both pitchers have shown they can be highly effective in shorter outings, and limiting their workloads gives them the best chance at remaining healthy. Asking either to suddenly take on the demands of being a starter again could not only impact their performance but also increase the likelihood of further injuries.