The Brewers Trade Deadline Needs: Starting Pitching, Please & Thank You

The Current State of the Rotation
The Brewers planned on a rotation of Freddy Peralta, Colin Rea, Wade Miley, DL Hall, and Joe Ross, with Jakob Junis and Aaron Ashby as additional depth for the team. How has that worked out for them?

Junis and Miley combined for three starts before going on the injured list. Miley is done for the season due to Tommy John surgery, while Junis had a milder injury before a freak injury delayed his return. Hall struggled in four starts before a knee injury got him a trip to the disabled list, and he is currently rehabbing in Nashville. Ross is also on the injured list as well after nine solid starts. Jared Koenig has had two starts as an opener during the Red Sox series, but they won’t be counted here.

While Peralta (3.61 ERA in 62.1 IP over 11 starts) and Rea (3.77 ERA in 54 IP over ten starts) have been very solid, the Brewers’ salvation to date has come from prospect Robert Gasser (2.57 ERA in 28 IP over five starts) and converted long-relief ace Bryse Wilson (2.76 ERA in 32.2 IP over seven starts). In comparison, Tobias Myers has been a decent inning-eater (5.61 ERA in 25.2 IP over six starts). Gasser's elbow, though, is being evaluated after he reported soreness, which could hurt the depth even more.

The Brewers, currently 6.5 games ahead of the Cubs for first place in the NL Central and a game back of the Dodgers for the second first-round “bye” in the playoffs, have done pretty well with four of the five spots of a typical MLB starting rotation so far. They could use a fifth and some depth. Can they get it?

Returns From the Injured List
Hall is slated to return from the injured list in June and has made two rehab appearances at High-A Wisconsin and Triple-A Nashville. He could be plugged back into the rotation, or he may end up in the bullpen—the rehab and how current starters perform will tell the tale.

Junis is starting a minor-league rehabilitation, which could be an option for at least some rotation depth. His only start in 2024 was short (4 IP), but still pretty solid. Again, whether in the rotation or as long-relief, the rehab and performance of those currently in the rotation will be the determining factors.

Ross could return, but the team may be exercising caution as the lower back issues are a first for the veteran hurler, as he has not even started any minor-league rehabilitation assignment.

Woodruff could return late in the season, but that is a long shot, and he may be broken in as a bullpen option, depending on the precise timing of his return to full baseball activities.

Then there is Ashby, who missed most of 2023 with a shoulder injury and is on what is really an extended minor-league rehab stint. Over the last four appearances, he seems to be turning a corner, as the contact has been less effective, and he did toss seven scoreless frames in his May 31 appearance.

Help From The Farm
The Brewers also have plenty of prospects. Just in Nashville, the Brewers have the choice of Carlos F. Rodriguez, Chad Patrick, Evan McKendry, and Tyler Woessner.

Patrick has been dominating from start to finish, while Rodriguez turned in a dominating month of May after a rough adjustment in March and April. Patrick, acquired in the Abraham Toro trade, could make the Brewers the ultimate winners of the Kolten Wong-for-Jesse Winker deal (the Mariners threw in Toro as part of the deal).

McKendry missed time with an injury and is ramping back up after having a track record of being a sneaky-solid rotation member for Nashville prior to the injury. Woessner is adjusting to Triple-A after dominating at Double-A Biloxi. Myers could be called up as well after his initial stint.

Bradley Blaylock, acquired in the Luis Urias trade, is on the 40-man down in Biloxi and was called up but returned to the Shuckers without appearing for the Crew. Then there is top prospect Jacob Misiorowski, who has dominating peripherals but has averaged less than four innings a start in Double-A.

Wild Card
There is one other option for the Brewers. Bryan Hudson has taken over Bryse Wilson’s old “long-relief ace” role. However, the Brewers may want to consider moving him to the rotation. It would require the Crew to find a replacement for that role, but Hudson’s gone two innings or more in nine out of 21 appearances. Stretching him out just might be the boost the Crew needs and could let them keep the prospect powder dry in the trade market.

Overview
The Brewers need a starter, arguably two if the news about Gasser's elbow is bad news (think extended IL time). The good news is that between those returning from the injured list, the prospects on the farm, and a wild card from their bullpen, they can fill the hole in the #5 spot and restore their depth without depleting the farm system via trade.