2021 Starting Rotation

[wibadgers23]

So if the season started today, I’m guessing we’d go something like:

1. Woodruff

2. Burnes

3. Anderson

4. Houser

5. Lindblom

 

Is that good enough to compete for a division?

[pacopete4]

Yes. Especially if they found a Houser replacement.

[Lathund]

Yes.

 

Also, this year more than any, depth will be of paramount importance due to ramping up from 60 to 162 games. Some teams have already said they'll be using 6-man rotations. Not sure what the Brewers will do, but in addition to those 5 they have Peralta, Suter, Lauer who have all been starters recently and can go multiple innings, and Zimmermann on a minor league deal. Might be looking to see if Rasmussen can do the same. So whether it's done through spot starts, or through piggybacks, or a 6-man rotation, or just longer (and more infrequent) relief appearances, I think Brewers have a lot of pitchers who can do a decent job. Beyond the very best teams like the Dodgers I think the Brewers compare very well in starter/"bulk pitcher" depth with most teams. Most teams would be very happy to have Peralta, Suter and Lauer as their 6th-8th starters.

[wallus]

So if the season started today, I’m guessing we’d go something like:

1. Woodruff

2. Burnes

3. Anderson

4. Houser

5. Lindblom

 

Is that good enough to compete for a division?

 

Some places were projecting us to win the division before this signing so this doesn't make us worse.

[SRB]

I think Lindblom is going to surprise some people this year. Excellent peripherals last season with the type of inflated ERA you can luck into across just 10 starts. Slots in as the #3 for me in terms of talent (not that it matters).

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Yes.

 

Also, this year more than any, depth will be of paramount importance due to ramping up from 60 to 162 games. Some teams have already said they'll be using 6-man rotations. Not sure what the Brewers will do, but in addition to those 5 they have Peralta, Suter, Lauer who have all been starters recently and can go multiple innings, and Zimmermann on a minor league deal. Might be looking to see if Rasmussen can do the same. So whether it's done through spot starts, or through piggybacks, or a 6-man rotation, or just longer (and more infrequent) relief appearances, I think Brewers have a lot of pitchers who can do a decent job. Beyond the very best teams like the Dodgers I think the Brewers compare very well in starter/"bulk pitcher" depth with most teams. Most teams would be very happy to have Peralta, Suter and Lauer as their 6th-8th starters.

 

Agreed. The more solid arms you can collect and have in reserve this year, the better. Anderson is no world beater, but he's a solid lefty starter who will keep you in games, and stands to improve this year with upgrades to the Brewers' defense. I'm really starting to like the rotation depth they are putting together. Would be nice to maybe see one more veteran starter on a minor league deal. And who knows, maybe a guy like Odorizzi or Walker will fall through the cracks, and the Brewers could swoop in with a solid short-term deal?

[brewerfan82]

So if the season started today, I’m guessing we’d go something like:

1. Woodruff

2. Burnes

3. Anderson

4. Houser

5. Lindblom

 

Is that good enough to compete for a division?

This rotation looks familiar

 

We basically have the same top 8 starters going into the season as last year: Woodruff, Burnes, Anderson, Houser, Lindblom, Lauer, Peralta, Suter. But we've got an added wildcard in Zimmermann this year as well. Should be an interesting Spring battle for the last couple spots.

 

But overall, I like the Anderson re-sign and it makes the depth going into the season feel a lot better. It'll be interesting to see how these guys do with the improved defense behind them as well.

[SandyTolan]

In 2021, I think Freddie's the next one to step up, like Burnes in 2020. I could see him pushing Houser to the pen, where Houser has been lights-out.

 

Looking to me like this could hands-down be one of the best pitching staffs in the NL. Plus, with hugely improved glovework on the infield - Wong at 2B, Shaw/Urias etc at 3B - a lot more groundballs will get gobbled up, making the pitching even stronger.

[BrewCrewBlueDevil]

Woodruff

Burnes

Lauer

Zimmerman

Anderson

[SRB]

Houser was very good in 2019, not sure why some seem down on him. This rotation quietly has a lot of upside if everybody clicks. You've got at least eight guys who could feasibly put up sub-4.00 ERA seasons in a changing six-man rotation

 

Woodruff

Burnes

Lindblom

Anderson

Houser

Peralta

Lauer

Suter

 

Not even counting Zimmermann, who is still an interesting depth option in his own right.

[pacopete4]

Houser was very good in 2019, not sure why some seem down on him. This rotation quietly has a lot of upside if everybody clicks. You've got at least eight guys who could feasibly put up sub-4.00 ERA seasons in a changing six-man rotation

 

Woodruff

Burnes

Lindblom

Anderson

Houser

Peralta

Lauer

Suter

 

Not even counting Zimmermann, who is still an interesting depth option in his own right.

 

Houser was very good as a reliever in 2019. As a starter, he was much like he was last year and has always been as a starter, which isn't very good.

 

It would be such a great thing for some of these other guys to bump him back to the pen where he belongs.

[SRB]

Houser was very good in 2019, not sure why some seem down on him. This rotation quietly has a lot of upside if everybody clicks. You've got at least eight guys who could feasibly put up sub-4.00 ERA seasons in a changing six-man rotation

 

Woodruff

Burnes

Lindblom

Anderson

Houser

Peralta

Lauer

Suter

 

Not even counting Zimmermann, who is still an interesting depth option in his own right.

 

Houser was very good as a reliever in 2019. As a starter, he was much like he was last year and has always been as a starter, which isn't very good.

 

It would be such a great thing for some of these other guys to bump him back to the pen where he belongs.

 

Houser had a 9.4 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 4.22 FIP, 3.71 xFIP as a starter in 2019. I recall him looking quit good, notwithstanding a couple 5-run blowups.

[wibadgers23]

Yeah I still have high hopes for Houser. People forget he had a pretty good 2019 as a starter. Hopefully last year was just a bad year, like it was for many.

[brewmann04]

Houser and Lindblom are the keys at least one needs to step up.

[RollieTime]

I’m a big Lauer fan, but at this point I think he’s the 6th option for the rotation. Woodruff, Burnes, and Anderson are locks. I imagine Lindblom did enough last season to show he’s deserving of the 4th spot. I think the final spot will come down to how Houser looks in the Spring and if Lauer rediscovers what he had his first two years in San Diego.

[SoCalBrewfan]

You've got at least eight guys who could feasibly put up sub-4.00 ERA seasons in a changing six-man rotation

 

That's good, because as I said in the Anderson thread, you're likely to need the depth this year. Planning for a five man rotation is in the best of years an act of optimism, but this year, my guess is that rotation and bullpen roles are going to be very fluid for many of the pitchers. (Not Woodruff, Burnes, Hader, Williams, presumably...)

 

EDIT: of course Lathund said something very similar above, with which I very much agree!

[brewtank34]

Woodruff

Burnes

Hader

Houser

Lindbloom

 

Just imagine if they stretched Hader out. Consider me drooling at the thought. Just get through 6-7 innings.

[Eye Black]

It'll be interesting to see how these guys do with the improved defense behind them as well.

I think it will be a banner year for run prevention at AmFam Field. The improved defense and good pitching will understandably get the lion-share of the credit, but I think AmFam Field is going to play as a pitchers park overall this year. It seems like most think of it as more of an offensive park because it allows an above average number of home runs from batters of both handedness, but for everything else (singles, doubles, triples) it has been at or below league average for the past six years (from both sides of the plate). Now add in the new deadened baseball which may help limit the home runs, and it seems like a recipe for a lot of low scoring games in 2021.

[brewtank34]

Woodruff

Burnes

Hader

Houser

Lindbloom

 

Just imagine if they stretched Hader out. Consider me drooling at the thought. Just get through 6-7 innings.

 

I would even go further and suggest that Anderson/Lauer be used s as a 6th SP for a 6 man rotation. With Hader earning more money, his salary could be more justified as a SP rather than a RP.

[CrewFanBrewMan69]

So if the season started today, I’m guessing we’d go something like:

1. Woodruff

2. Burnes

3. Anderson

4. Houser

5. Lindblom

 

Is that good enough to compete for a division?

For this division, absolutely. I don’t see much difference in the Brewers, Cardinals, Reds and Cubs on paper to start the year. Any of those 4 can win 72 or 92 games depending on luck, health, etc. lots of variance with all those teams.

[SandyTolan]

I'm going with

 

 

Woodruff

Burnes

Anderson

Peralta

Lindblom

 

Swing/piggyback/RP: Lauer, Houser, Suter

 

D. Williams

Rasmussen

Topa

Yardley

 

Now, add Jeffress. That's a damn good staff of 13.

[DR28]

Yes. Especially if they found a Houser replacement.

 

Houser isn't the pitcher he was in 2020... With the improved defense he'll be much better and very close to the pitcher he has in 2019... He'll be a very good #3.

 

Woodruff

Burnes

Houser

Anderson

Lindblom

 

That rotation can pitch!

[pitchleague]

I've read that many teams will be going with a 6- or even 7-man rotation this year. The reasoning given was that with the 60-game season last year, pitchers may not have the stamina to make it through a full season in a 5-man rotation. I suppose that this line of thinking aligns with young pitchers or pitchers coming off of injury that only pitch the theoretical 20% more innings each season to "save their arms."

 

I'll be curious to see what teams will do this season and, specifically, how it will affect the Brewers.

[pacopete4]

Results matter. Houser doesn't get the job done as a starter. And it is more annoying when we have seen how elite he is as a reliever.

[RobDeer 45]

I've read that many teams will be going with a 6- or even 7-man rotation this year. The reasoning given was that with the 60-game season last year, pitchers may not have the stamina to make it through a full season in a 5-man rotation. I suppose that this line of thinking aligns with young pitchers or pitchers coming off of injury that only pitch the theoretical 20% more innings each season to "save their arms."

 

I'll be curious to see what teams will do this season and, specifically, how it will affect the Brewers.

 

I do think this year will cause teams to be creative. I think this is a strength of both the Brewers and Counsel. Stearns has continued to build flexible rosters and Counsel seems to have a creative mind, and really gets the most out of his team. I think this gives us an advantage over many teams in a 162 game season. I'm excited to see how this all plays out.