The Brewers must make two early-season transactions.
Despite a great start to the season, the Milwaukee Brewers still have numerous areas of need, particularly in the starting rotation.
Despite projections of a decline in 2024, the Milwaukee Brewers have begun the season quite well. Last year’s 92-win club lost two of the top starting pitchers in franchise history, as well as manager Craig Counsell, but still leads the National League Central.
Despite a fantastic 22-15 start to the season, the club still has a lot of needs. Here are two early-season moves the Brewers must make to keep up with a competitive division.
Brewers needs
Starting pitching.
Injuries have ravaged Milwaukee’s starting pitching, with DL Hall, Wade Miley, and Jakob Junis all on the injured list. Miley is out for the year, and Junis is on a 60-day IL. Tobias Harris and Bryse Wilson have performed brilliantly in their absence, but neither can be considered a long-term alternative. Colin Rea and Joe Ross, Milwaukee’s current second and third starters, are hardly the type of pitchers that should lead a postseason team. Miley’s departure is especially devastating because it leaves the club without a reliable starter other than Peralta.
Relief pitching.
With starting pitchers injured, returning from injury, and transitioning from relief to starting roles, the Brewers have leaned heavily on their bullpen to consume innings this season. Milwaukee’s starting pitchers have pitched the fewest innings of any Major League staff in 2024, usually failing to reach the sixth or even fifth inning.
Moving long reliever. Bryse Wilson has damaged the bullpen by frequently piggybacking off those brief starts and connecting with the club’s higher leverage relievers. Hoby Milner, Elvis Peguero, and Abner Uribe have all played in at least 40% of Milwaukee’s games this season, while Joel Payamps and Bryan Hudson are just shy of that mark.
