3 Brewers players who shouldn't make 2024 postseason roster

The Milwaukee Brewers have their postseason spot clinched, winning the NL Central by a wide margin. They appear unlikely to track down the Phillies for the second seed in the National League, meaning they will play in the dreaded Wild Card round of the playoffs.

During September, rosters expand to 28 players. However, when the postseason begins, rosters shrink back down to 26 players. Teams can use anyone from their 40 man roster for playoff roster spots and they can change between rounds. The roster you use for the Wild Card can be different from the NLDS and the NLCS and the World Series. No one has to use minor league options or be DFAed in order to be left off the roster for a certain round.

It's all about putting the best 26 players on the roster for that given round. That means the roster will look quite a bit different than how the Brewers constructed their roster for the regular season. Who could be left out when all the decisions are made?

1. Hoby Milner

Hoby Milner is a clear candidate to be left off the playoff roster. The veteran lefty has been a trusted arm for years in the Brewers bullpen, but 2024 has been a clear down season for Milner. He's looked better lately, but it's difficult for the Brewers to trust him right now in high leverage spots and every single spot in the postseason is a high leverage spot.

Milner's 4.82 ERA this year is his highest since 2021, his first year with the Brewers. Even though there have been plenty of opportunities throughout the year for the Brewers to part ways with him, Milner has stuck around and he appears likely to stick through the regular season.

For a best of three series, there's not as many pitchers that are needed, which means bullpen jobs are at a premium. Pat Murphy needs his most trusted arms. The best version of this Brewers bullpen simply does not include Hoby Milner at this point.

2. Aaron Civale

This might be a surprise to some, but if we're just looking at the initial playoff roster which will likely be the Wild Card round, that's only a best of three series. The Brewers only need to carry three starting pitchers, they don't need all five. Playoff rotations also usually shrink down to four starters once you get beyond the first round.

This doesn't mean Civale isn't going to make any postseason roster, should the Brewers advance past the first round this year. Civale has been better since coming over to the Brewers, pitching to a 3.84 ERA with the Crew as opposed to a 5.07 ERA with Tampa Bay.

When you project the Brewers rotation for a best of three Wild Card round, who are their three best starters right now? You're looking at Freddy Peralta likely starting Game 1, then after that Frankie Montas and Tobias Myers have been the Brewers best starters down the stretch. They are likely to earn those starts over Civale based on performance.

That leaves Colin Rea and Aaron Civale from the current rotation that are unlikely to earn starts in the first round. It feels likely that one of those two will still make the roster but in a bullpen capacity, perhaps jumping in if one of the starters runs into trouble. Rea has started to get some work out of the bullpen between his starts and seems to be getting primed for a bullpen role. He has that experience while Civale doesn't.

Civale last pitched on Saturday and is slated to pitch on Thursday against the Pirates. On regular rest, he'd line up for Game 2 as he's right behind Freddy Peralta, but just because he's right after Peralta during the final week of the regular season doesn't mean the Brewers are going to go with him for Game 2 behind Peralta in the postseason.

Civale has a 4.12 ERA in his four September starts and has made it past the fifth inning just one time, going 5.1 IP against the Giants. He hasn't been one of their top starters lately and that could keep him out of the Wild Card. Should the Brewers advance to the NLDS, he absolutely could return, however.