6 Position battles that are up for grabs at 2024 Brewers spring training

3. The 4th and 5th starting rotation spots

Veteran contenders: Colin Rea, Joe Ross
Talented, but unproven contenders: LHP Aaron Ashby, LHP DL Hall, LHP Robert Gasser, RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez, RHP Janson Junk

The Brewers starting rotation is going to look a whole lot different in 2024 than it did in 2023. Brandon Woodruff is gone. Corbin Burnes is gone. Adrian Houser is gone. The strength of the team has lost a ton of proven talent, but that leaves open plenty of opportunities.

The first three spots in the rotation seem locked in with Freddy Peralta, Wade Miley, and Jakob Junis. The final two or potentially even three spots though are completely up for grabs and there are at least seven legitimate contenders to earn those jobs out of spring training.

There are a couple of veterans vying for spots. Colin Rea, who was an unsung hero for last season's rotation, stepping in when injuries decimated the group and providing steady innings, keeping the Brewers in games. Milwaukee re-signed him quickly this offseason with a nice raise, and he'll have a great chance to stick in the rotation in 2024.

Joe Ross has not pitched in MLB since 2021 after dealing with Tommy John surgery. He signed a major league deal with the Crew and could be a veteran innings eater if he's back to 100%. He never put up great numbers in his career, but he'll have an opportunity to crack the roster.

Then there's the talented, but unproven group of pitchers. Aaron Ashby was signed to a five year contract not long ago, but shoulder surgery wiped out his 2023 season and there's really no telling just how much the Brewers will be able to rely upon him this year. However, if he shows he's healthy in spring training and is pitching like we've seen him before the injury, Ashby should have the inside track to a rotation spot.

Three prospects are coming into camp with legitimate shots to make the rotation to start the year. DL Hall came over in the Corbin Burnes trade and the Brewers view him as a starter after spending the last two years primarily being a reliever in Baltimore. Robert Gasser spent all of last season in Triple-A and is ready to make the jump to the big leagues. Carlos F. Rodriguez dominated Double-A and earned a promotion to Triple-A in 2023 and will see big league opportunities at some point this year.

Jacob Misiorowski is not listed as a contender for one of these opening rotation spots despite being a non-roster invitee. Misiorowski has an outside chance to make the club right away as a reliever based on his talent, but the Brewers are developing him as a starter and he needs more development time there before they put him in the rotation.