With a Subtle Move, Milwaukee Brewers Line Up Their NLDS Rotation

The Milwaukee Brewers bumped Brandon Woodruff's planned Saturday start back to this coming Wednesday, briefly stirring some fears about the veteran hurler's health in September. Apparently, though, Woodruff is uninjured. Instead, it seems like the Brewers have used their two off days within a week to align their rotation, while keeping everyone else working on regular rest. 

They have now lined up the triumvirate of Freddy Peralta, Woodruff and Quinn Priester to pitch against the Los Angeles Angels, in that order. In keeping their pitchers on four days' rest and use (with an abbreviated start for the final three games of the regular season), that would see:

That would feature a four-man rotation with a skipped start on September 25, but with plenty of arms around, that shouldn't be much of a concern. It should allow them to stay on some regular pitching schedule (without too much time between starts) entering the NLDS.

Keeping to a regular schedule is vital for the Brewers down the stretch. They'll want their playoff starters pitching as closely as possible to the end of the season, as too much rest can be as damaging as too little. Should Peralta pitch on September 26, his next start would be the following Saturday, in Game 1 of the NLDS, with seven days between starts. They could also choose to use the abbreviated starts that are likely to come in the final series to pitch all three of their playoff horses in the final two games, shortening that time between starts even further.

What Does That Mean For Jacob Misiorowski?
With Jacob Misiorowski still learning and adapting to wrinkles in the big leagues, Quinn Priester's reliability looks awfully tempting, so to see the Brewers lean this way is no real surprise. That being said, should they reach the NLCS, they would need a fourth starter, and the young phenom is in pole position to be used there.

Jose Quintana's calf strain may make the discussion moot, but he may also have a role here. Depending on whom the Brewers face should they survive the NLDS, the left-handed matchup may be advantageous, despite his recent struggles. Quintana's postseason pedigree means that the Brewers are comfortable throwing him in for four or five innings against a Phillies lineup that hasn't been quite as successful against left-handers this year.

If we assume Misiorowski is the favorite to slide into the rotation should the team reach the NLCS, how they manage his workload to finish the season is fascinating. Both in his start to 2025, and in his return from his shin contusion in August, Misiorowski has struggled to find his rhythm from the get-go after prolonged absences from the mound. Will they use him out of the bullpen in the NLDS? Will his last outing before the playoffs be a start on September 24 against the Padres? He'll need to stay both stretched out, and available from the bullpen. Adjustments to his schedule and rhythm haven't come easily to the young hurler this season, and it could be a steep learning curve. Live BP sessions during the lull between the team's regular-season finale and the NLDS might help bridge the gap.

Do you think the Brewers' playoff rotation is set in stone? Or could Jacob Misiorowski still wriggle back into the thick of it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!