Last season, the 2023 Milwaukee Brewers led the majors with a 3.71 ERA, with ten of the Brewers pitchers recording an ERA of less than three. Now, without ace Corbin Burnes, many believe the Brews will take a dive within the NL Central standings during the 2024 season.
While starter Freddy Peralta led Milwaukee with 12 wins on the mound in 2023, starter Brandon Woodruff would lead the Brewers with a 2.28 ERA through 11 starts. Peralta and the other starters, plus Woodruff when he’s healthy must pitch their A-game during every start they have in 2024 if the Brewers want to sustain the same level of success they had last season. Even if Woodruff comes back from this important surgery, this Milwaukee pitching staff needs to have confidence in themselves before they go from being the league’s best team ranked in ERA to one of the worst.
It’s highly unlikely that we will see Brandon Woodruff pitch in 2024. Milwaukee Brewers general manager Matt Arnold wants to preserve Woodruff and make sure the next time he goes out on the mound, he’s 100 percent ready. Arnold said,
“Woodruff is not only one of the best pitchers in our franchise’s history but is also a valued member of our organization off the field” in a statement Friday. Arnold added: “He and his wife, Jonie, have gone above and beyond here in the community. Brandon’s health is our top priority at this point in time.”
Three Potential ERA Leaders for the 2024 Milwaukee Brewers
1. Freddy Peralta
Last season in 30 starts, Peralta posted a 12-10 record. Through almost 166 innings pitched, Freddy recorded an ERA of 3.86 with 210 strikeouts. The six-year starter had the most wins and the most strikeouts for the Milwaukee Brewers during the 2023 season. Although the 27-year-old starter has a chance to improve this season, ZiPS Projections believes this will be a down year for Freddy.
ZiPS Projections predicts in 28 starts, Peralta will finish the 2024 regular season with a 10-9 record. Through 150-plus innings pitched, they believe the six-year starter will have the same 3.86 ERA he put up last season. This 3.86 ERA would lead all the Milwaukee Brewers starters for the 2024 season. However, if Peralta improves look for him to possibly be named to his first all-star game.
2. Wade Miley
During the 2023 season, starter Wade Miley finished with a solid 9-4 record. Through 120 innings pitched, the 13-year pro pitcher recorded a 3.14 ERA and 76 strikeouts. Miley appeared in 23 starts, he could have pitched more, but back in May, it was announced Miley was going to be out for six to eight weeks with a posterior serratus strain. Wade’s 3.14 ERA is a career-best, and he’ll look to attain those numbers again in 2024.
Unfortunately, ZiPS does not believe Wade will have a positive 2024 season. In 21 starts, ZiPS predicts Miley will go 6-7, and through 110 innings pitched, he’ll finish with a 4.24 ERA and 74 strikeouts. The 37-year-old starter is getting up their age, but should have the talent, and the ability to steer this Brewers rotation in the right direction.
3. Robert Gasser
24-year-old starting pitcher Robert Gasser has the opportunity to be labeled a franchise cornerstone piece for this Milwaukee Brewers ball club. Through his minor league career, Gasser has posted a 16-13 record. Last season, he went 9-1 with a 3.79 ERA.
ZiPS Projections believes Robert will have a 5-6 record through 24 starts, and 25 games overall. In 126 innings pitched, they believe Gasser will attain a 4.29 ERA, and 127 strikeouts.