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When the 2024 season started, Milwaukee expected to have Freddy Peralta, Colin Rea, Jakob Junis, DL Hall, and possibly Joe Ross as members of the starting rotation. Although Wade Miley was injured, he was mentioned as a starter, as was minor-league phenom Robert Gasser.
Sixty-four games into the season, only Peralta and Rea have started at least a dozen games. Ross (9) and Gasser (5) have chipped in, but both currently are on the 15-day injured list. Thus far, seven other pitchers have made starts for Milwaukee: Tobias Myers (7), Bryce Wilson (7), Hall (4), Jared Koenig (4), Aaron Ashby (2), Miley (2), and Junis (1). Miley, Junis, and Hall are all on the 60-day IL.
Peralta is the no-doubt ace of the staff, but as of late is pitching more like a middle-of-the-rotation guy. Nobody else has stepped up to take the #2 and #3 spots in the rotation. That said, what can the Brewers do to strengthen the starting staff to make it the equal of the batting lineup?
Gasser, along with minor league aces like Jacob Misiorowski and Carlos F. Rodriguez, who are close to cracking the Milwaukee roster, should give the Brewers hope for future rotational stars.
But for today, the Brewers hope their pitching staff can keep up with their hitters.
Offensively, the team is third in the NL with 321 runs scored, third with 565 hits, fourth with 68 home runs, third with 86 steals, fourth with 226 walks, second with a .257 batting average, second with an on-base percentage of .332, third with a slugging percentage of .409, and fourth with an OPS+ of 109. In other words, the team can hit.
William Contreras (.309/.376/.475) is arguably the best-hitting catcher in baseball; second baseman Brice Turang is on pace for 50 steals while slashing .307/.371/.415, Christian Yelich looks like the ‘Yeli’ of old with an OPS+ of 163 and infielder Joey Ortiz surpasses expectations at the plate with a slash line of .291/.387/.479.
The pitching staff is lagging and needs an infusion of solid starts to help the Brewers cross the finish line into September and hopefully beyond. If Peralta can learn to pitch deeper into games and establishes himself as a staff ace, and one of the young pitchers can consistently step up and be a force, the Brewers would only need another pitcher or two to give them what they need to become a solid contender for the NL title.
Injuries or Decimation of a Staff?
When a team has six starting pitchers on various injury lists, management needs to put together a patchwork staff or make a deal to acquire another pitcher or two. Here is a list of the six pitchers that are on injured lists:
- Robert Gasser (15-day) left flexor strain in elbow, return TBD.
- DL Hall (60-day) left knee sprain, return mid-to-late June.
- Jakob Junis (60-day) right shoulder, return mid-June.
- Wade Miley (60-day) torn UCL, return 2025.
- Joe Ross (15-day) lower back strain, return TBD.
- Brandon Woodruff (60-day) right shoulder, return late 2024/early 2025.
Hall and Junis will likely return to action before Independence Day, while the outlooks for Gasser and Ross are a bit cloudier. Miley, of course, is out for the rest of the season, but an early return by Woodruff in September or October could help strengthen the Brewers staff if he is the same pitcher who made a pair of All-Star appearances in the past and was a Cy Young finalist in 2021.
Out of the Comfort Zone?
During every season, players are thrust into roles they might not be acclimated to, which can affect their performance. Take Bryse Wilson, for example. He was pretty much a starter before he came to Milwaukee in 2023, taking the ball in 43 starts while making just 13 relief appearances for Atlanta and Pittsburgh from 2018-2022. Craig Counsell used Wilson exclusively out of the bullpen last year, where he was very effective.
This year, manager Pat Murphy has started Wilson seven times and called for him in relief eight times. Wilson averages 4.2 innings/start but has a walk rate of 12.2%. Out of the ‘pen, that rate is only 3.5%. But his OPS against is .657 as a starter and .768 as a reliever. Wilson made five consecutive starts in late April/early May but has only started one of his last three appearances. Murphy is playing ‘mix-or-match’ here, depending on who can start. Where will Wilson end up? It seems he will remain as a spot starter for now.
To me, Aaron Ashby is an enigma. He has a career strikeout rate of 26.1% but allows hits and walks to the tune of a 1.388 WHIP. He didn’t pitch badly in his June 5 outing against Philadelphia, but he didn’t throw nearly enough strikes (49 in 91 pitches) and had eight three-ball counts on the 21 batters he faced. That is simply too many. He was optioned to Nashville on Friday and will get a chance to stretch out in the Sounds rotation until further notice.
Carlos F. Rodriguez (CFR) is expected to be called up from Nashville and handed the ball for a start against Toronto on Tuesday at American Family Field. A great piece by Spencer Michaelis on this website details CFR’s struggles and successes this season. Rodriguez will take Ashby’s place in the rotation, at least for one start. Is he out of his depth? History shows he had great numbers at Single-A and Double-A, but thus far, Triple-A stats are a little less impressive. Brewers fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival in Brew City of one of the top Brewer prospects.
Are the Trade Winds Blowing?
If push comes to shove, the Brewers might need to make a trade or two. Here are two possible options and one very long shot.
Trevor Rogers, LHP (Marlins)
The 26-year-old Rogers was an All-Star and runner-up in the ROY voting in 2021. He has struggled to find his way since then, but his last two starts weren’t too terrible. He is expected to take the mound against Cleveland today. Rogers is signed through this season and can’t become a free agent until after the 2026 season. ‘T-Raw’ could be more than just a rental for Milwaukee.
Erick Fedde, RHP (White Sox)
After a good season in Korea in 2023, the White Sox signed Fedde to a two-year, $15 million contract. He could also become a free agent after the 2026 season. Fedde has pitched well in the Windy City, posting an ERA+ of 124 and a WHIP of 1.184 in 13 starts. Given his age (31) and the fact that the White Sox are pretty bad—no, they suck—this season, the Brewers might not have to give away too much in a trade.
Justin Verlander, RHP (Astros)
Like I said, it's a long shot. But something to think about, maybe.
What Will the Brewers Do?
Milwaukee has a few options, but they better not wait too long. They can hope their starters get healthy, their young players live up to expectations, and the injury bug attacks some other team. Or they can be like Monty Hall and ‘make a deal’ sooner rather than later.
Faithful readers, what do you think the Brewers should do? Please comment below, and thanks for taking the time to read this piece!
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