Milwaukee Brewers: Grading the Crew's Starting Pitchers in the 2023 Season

RHP Brandon Woodruff: A-

Brandon Woodruff's season was a rollercoaster of challenges, primarily due to injuries limiting him to just 11 starts. However, in those limited appearances, he showcased nothing short of brilliance. Woodruff posted a stellar 2.28 ERA (3.60 FIP) and an impressive 0.821 WHIP. What stands out even more is his remarkable consistency—allowing two runs or fewer in nine out of his 11 starts, never letting the opposing team score more than four runs.

Despite Woodruff's reliability and stellar performance on the mound, the Brewers finished 7-4 in his starts. However, before we point fingers at Woodruff, it's worth noting that the team's lack of run support played a significant role. In his losing starts, Milwaukee averaged a mere two runs per game.

Now, the grading dilemma arises. While it's unfair to penalize Woodruff for factors beyond his control, the reality is that he only made 11 starts. Despite A+ level performance in those outings, it's a challenge to hand out the highest grade for such a limited sample size.

RHP Freddy Peralta: B

Next is Freddy Peralta's performance on the mound during the past season. The stat sheet shows a 3.86 ERA (3.85 FIP) and a 1.117 WHIP, which, at first glance, appear quite commendable, especially given his career-high 30 starts. However, Peralta's season wasn't a smooth, uninterrupted ride; it had its fair share of peaks and valleys.

At certain points, Peralta saw his ERA climb as high as 4.73, revealing the rollercoaster nature of his performance throughout the 2023 campaign. This inconsistency reflected in the win column, with the Brewers going 17-13 in games started by Peralta.

Unlike Woodruff, where losses could be attributed to a lack of run support, Peralta's situation was more varied, with his performance impacting the outcomes of most games, barring a few exceptions. Milwaukee averaged 4.82 runs in Freddy Peralta starts. 

While Peralta did ultimately deliver a solid season for Milwaukee, the unpredictability of his outings created a bit of a rollercoaster ride for fans. The final numbers may have met expectations, but the journey to get there leaves a lingering sense of disappointment. In the grand scheme, Peralta's season deserves a respectable grade, but the ups and downs make it challenging to hand out top honors.