How Should Milwaukee Brewers Manage Freddy Peralta's Shoulder Injury Concerns?

Freddy Peralta's value to the Milwaukee Brewers can't be overstated. The biggest questions for the team are, can they keep him healthy, and how do they accomplish it while getting the most out of his skill? Last season, the right-handed hurler missed more than two months with a right lat strain. Peralta returned to the club on August 3 to make seven appearances (31.2 innings) but left his September 8 start after two frames with "shoulder fatigue." That landed him back on the injured list (IL). 

Though Peralta came back to pitch in three more contests before the season's end, he tossed just 7.2 total frames in them, while giving up seven hits and four earned runs (4.70 ERA). More concerning is that Peralta's shoulder problem began in 2021, making it a bit of a trend. Peralta left the August 18, 2021, game after an awkward swing at the plate. However, he admitted afterward that his shoulder felt "a little uncomfortable yesterday and a little bit today before the game." The two shoulder issues, coupled with the lat injury, must concern the Brewers, since the lat and shoulder are connected in their movements and effectiveness when throwing.



Peralta brings tremendous value to the Brewers, posting 4.0 fWAR in 144.1 innings in 2021 and a 2.0 fWAR in 78 frames last season. That only tells part of the story. He's a vital bridge between Cy Young candidates Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff and the second half of the rotation. What can the Brewers do to get the most out of Peralta without stifling his impact or losing him for longer stretches? A few options could be in play:

1 - Use a Six-Man Starting Rotation
The Brewers mainly employed a six-man rotation in 2021, coming off the short 2020 campaign. Manager Craig Counsell and company were worried the sudden uptick in innings pitched from one season to another put arm health in danger. It worked beautifully, both in keeping pitchers healthy and in the staff's record performances.

Getting Peralta (and others) at least five days of rest between starts instead of four could relieve the strain on his shoulder and lat. Making 26 starts and averaging 5.1 innings per outing would get Peralta to nearly 140 innings. If he's near his peak performance levels in those fewer starts with extra rest, the value will be there.

2 - Plan for Short Starts
It's difficult to judge if total innings or innings per outing have a more significant effect on Peralta's shoulder. The Brewers may prefer maximizing his number of starts but limiting the number of up-and-downs (times visiting and getting cold on the dugout bench, then having to ramp back up for a new inning).

Milwaukee could plan for starts of three or four innings (or by pitches), planning to piggyback another multi-inning pitcher to follow Peralta. This gets Peralta through the top-middle of the order twice and allows him to hone his pitches over shorter periods. He would likely max out at 130 innings or so, but it could be best for the team and Peralta's long-term health.

3 - Utilize Sporadic Extra Days Off
The Brewers could also monitor Peralta on a start-by-start basis. In watching his velocity, command, and body language each time on the mound, Counsell and his staff can make decisions when needed.

With Milwaukee's added pitching depth, Peralta could take seven or eight days off while the Brewers utilize a different starter or go with a bullpen day. This option creates more uncertainty in his schedule, but it offers the club a chance to let Peralta ride deeper when he's strong and recharge him when he appears to be losing something.

4 - Move Peralta to the Bullpen
There could be unique value in having an arm like Peralta's coming out of the pen, especially for multiple innings or in high-leverage situations. It would also clearly limit the amount of innings he would throw, both within a game and throughout the season. He could be the right-handed version of Josh Hader, utilizing him more frequently than as a starter and picking spots when he impacts the game the most.

There are a couple of downsides. For one, there would be even more uncertainty with Peralta's usage daily. Maybe he doesn't get enough time to loosen up in the pen, comes in too early, and that hurts his shoulder. Plus, trying to bounce back more frequently is often more challenging than a five or six-day schedule. He's also been slightly less effective as a reliever in his career. Peralta has allowed a .667 OPS in relief (.619 as a starter) and owns a 1.29 WHIP out of the bullpen (1.09 as a starter).

Regardless of when or where he is pitching, Peralta is a formidable weapon in the Brewers' arsenal. Though it was in a smaller sample size, Peralta sat in the 90th percentile in some key Statcast metrics in 2022. You can see why Milwaukee needs him as often as possible.


Figuring out the best option for Peralta will have an influence on numerous pitchers and their usage throughout the season. Arnold's creation of pitching depth, including starters and multiple-inning relievers, gives Counsell various options, without painting the coaching staff into a corner. The Brewers have proven they are willing to strategize in unique ways and take whatever measures are needed to utilize the team's talent to its full extent. Peralta is both a special challenge and a perfect opportunity to continue doing so.