Despite many key losses in the offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers have found themselves leading the NL Central at the break. This is due, in part, to the steady influence of first-year manager Pat Murphy, a potent offense, and a strong bullpen.
However, the Brewers’ starting rotation has been shaky so far this season. Freddy Peralta has shown he isn’t an ace, and a team record of 16 different pitchers have made a start this season. It hasn’t helped that many starters have spent time on the injured list, with three of them lost for the season. With the nearing trade deadline, Milwaukee needs to add depth to its starting rotation.
2024’s Starter Uncertainty
Embed from Getty ImagesDuring the offseason, Milwaukee traded former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles for Joey Ortiz and DL Hall. The Brewers also dealt Adrian Houser, another long-time starter, to the New York Mets. They brought back Colin Rea and Wade Miley in free agency, along with Brandon Woodruff, but who has been out for the year.
The Brewers also signed FAs Joe Ross and Jakob Junis, making Peralta a No. 1 pitcher for the first time. Additionally, the team used the spring to see how their rotation would shape up.
A Very Fluid Rotation
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Brewers’ success this season has largely overshadowed the deficiencies of their starters, who have combined for a 4.36 ERA. The only NL teams whose starters have a worse ERA are the Miami Marlins, Washington Nationals, and Colorado Rockies.
Milwaukee has had a team record of 16 different pitchers making a start this season. Injury is a big reason for the Brewers’ rotation issues.
Miley and Robert Gasser were both lost for the season with elbow injuries. Ross and Hall have been on the injured list since early in the season. Junis was on the list late in April and didn’t pitch again until early June. It hasn’t helped that Peralta has shown he’s better suited to be a No. 2 or 3 pitcher rather than an ace. And while Rea and rookie Tobias Myers have helped the rotation tread water, it’s not enough to have success going forward.
Plenty of Available Starters
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Brewers could easily add an ace-like pitcher to the rotation; their farm system is currently ranked as the third-best in the league. They could acquire anybody they desire, given their minor league’s depth. Plenty of pitchers will be available at the deadline and could be better fits at the top of the rotation.
Pitchers like Erick Fedde, Jack Flaherty, Tyler Anderson, and Chris Bassitt are on teams that won’t be postseason-bound, so those four players — and possibly others — could fit the bill for the Brewers in the second half of the season. Flaherty and Bassitt have pitched at the top of a rotation during their careers, which could pay dividends for Milwaukee.
Leveraging the Farm System
While the Brewers are in first place in the NL Central, they are doing it despite their pitching struggles. The team is lucky the rest of the division has been weak enough to let them get away with it. However, it’ll eventually catch up with the team and hurt them.
A solid starting rotation is an ingredient required for future success, and the Brewers have the farm system to swing any deal they want at the trade deadline to upgrade their rotation. If Milwaukee wants to have success both after the All-Star break and possibly in the postseason, then upgrading their starting rotation has to happen.
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