The Brewers have decided to shake up their starting rotation on Saturday.
The Brewers have moved number starting pitcher Eric Lauer to the bullpen. The rotation, for now, will consist of Corbin Burnes, Colin Rea, Adrian Houser, Freddy Peralta, and Wade Miley. The team hopes to get Brandon Woodruff back in late June to early July. Woodruff has been out since April 15 with a Grade 2 sub-scapular strain.
Lauer’s numbers are confounding as he has a 3-1 record with a 1.90 ERA and 23.2 innings pitched on the road, versus a dreadful home record. Lauer has held lefties to a .130 AVG, .231 OBP, and a .348 slugging percentage. Against righties is different as they have .309 AVG off Lauer, a .376 OBP, and.348 SLG. Milwaukee made a similar move for Lauer in the 2020 pandemic-shortened season where he started in the bullpen and alternated between being in the bullpen and as a starter in the 2021 season; this role is nothing new for Lauer.
With this new role, Lauer could play the role that Brent Suter played for Milwaukee for the past six seasons; a guy who you can trust to eat up some innings if the starter has a tough outing, and if needed, Lauer can make a spot start similar to what Suter provided for Milwaukee.
The bullpen role isn’t new to Lauer as he had back-to-back seasons (2020 and 2021) of coming out of the bullpen and was effective in both as in 2020 he held the opposition to a.188 AVG, 0 home runs and 4 RBIs. In 2021, opposing batters only hit .205 off him and only allowed 3 home runs and 5 RBIs.
Manager Craig Counsell said this is a short-term fix to help Lauer get back to form; the plan is to skip his start against the Royals and hopefully, this skipped start can help Lauer in the long-term
With its current depth at rotation, Milwaukee can afford to send someone like Lauer to the bullpen, and for now, this is a good move for both sides.
Brewers have updated their probable pitchers.
Colin Rea starts tomorrow against Kansas City. Freddy Peralta, Wade Miley and Corbin Burnes after that in order in St. Louis. No Eric Lauer listed.
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) May 13, 2023