Milwaukee Brewers: First Half Grades for the Starting Pitchers

RHP Freddy Peralta

Like Burnes, fellow member of the Brewers' "Big Three" Freddy Peralta has struggled more than fans are used to over the last few years. Through 17 starts, the 27-year-old is 5-7 with a 4.70 ERA, his highest mark since 2019 when he was still largely a reliever.

While Freddy is still striking out a decent amount of batters compared to last year and his walk rate is right around his career average, it's the home runs that have been killing him. Peralta is giving up 1.6 HR/9, tying his career worst mark from back in 2019. As a result, his 8.0 H/9 is also his highest since that year.

Peralta has looked better as of late, having given up three runs or fewer in four straight starts and striking out 18 in his last two starts combined. But the Brewers have a losing record so far this season when Freddy starts (8-9) and that just isn't going to cut it for a player of his caliber.

Grade: C+

LHP Wade Miley

36-year-old Wade Miley has just continued to battle father time to keep being an effective starting pitcher in recent seasons. The Brewers signed him to a one-year deal last offseason with hopes that he would continue to do so and that is exactly what has happened.

Miley missed a few starts due to injury this season but has otherwise been fantastic. He has a 6-2 record in 13 starts and has a 3.06 ERA, which is the second lowest mark of his 13-year career, only bested by the 2.57 ERA he had in his first stint with the Crew back in 2018.

Miley isn't one to miss bats as his 6.0 K/9 is the second lowest among the team's starters this season. But that doesn't matter as much when your walking just 6.9% of batters and also holding them to a .233 average, making him the team's most effective starter so far in 2023.

Grade: A

RHP Colin Rea

It would be shocking if there was a single Brewers fan's bingo card that had 33-year-old Colin Rea making multiple starts for Milwaukee in 2023. And though the numbers haven't been perfect, there have been some strong outings in there that have helped keep the rotation afloat during some troubling times.

Through 16 outings (15 starts), Rea is 5-4 with a 4.71 ERA and a pretty solid 1.220 WHIP. Like Miley, he doesn't strike out a ton of batters (7.5 K/9) and his home run rate is a little up (1.5 HR/9), but he doesn't walk many either (7.7% walk rate), which has helped limit damage at times.

Rea's outings can sometimes be a rollercoaster from game to game. While he has only given up more than four earned runs once on the season, he has given up exactly four runs on six occasions. That said, he has also given up two or fewer runs on six occasions as well. What matters, though, is wins, and the fact of the matter is that the team has won more times (nine) than they have lost (seven) when he appears in a game.

Grade: C