Brewers Starting Pitchers For 2013

With the Brewers now firmly out of playoff contention, attentions turn towards the 2013 season. In the past, the next year's pitching corps was the big question during the off season, as the team has lacked a steady rotation since 2009. Manager Ron Roenicke took care of that problem early, by seaming-up the mound's personnel with trades and purchases throughout 2012. It looks like the Brewers are finishing the year with a solid picture of who will be in the starting rotation for 2013.

With nine-year veteran Shaun Marcum entering free-agency this off-season, Yovani Gallardo becomes the most senior pitcher on the roster. Gallardo began the most games of any Brewers starter in 2012, putting him in a good position to take over the ace role next year.

Roenicke Hopes Starting Pitchers Will Shine In 2013

Roenicke hopes to return to the number of pitchers he used to get the team into the playoffs for the first time in twenty-years in 2010. Just six names took the mound that year, compared to the ten that started for the team this season. Injuries and sub-par performances forced the manager to realign the roster a number of times during the year, though the reorganization seemed to workout for the best in the end, as three-of-the-seven potential starters for next season were not wearing Brewers uniforms until the middle-of-last-year.

With Gallardo at the helm, Mike Fiers, Mark Rodgers, Chris Narveson, Marco Estrada, Wily Peralta, and Tyler Thornburg represent the rest of the Brewers starting rotation. Estrada was the second most productive starter in 2012, putting up four double-digit strikeout nights and high numbers during August and September. Narveson will be another familiar face in the club house in 2013, though shoulder surgery limited the lefty to just a one-and-one season, with a suspicious seven ERA. Fiers is the youngest of the returning pitchers with at least ten starts in 2012. Despite being picked-up in late May, he went nine-and-ten on the season, including an outstanding July.

The rest of the players in question are recent additions to the roster, though each displayed promise in their few games with Milwaukee this year. Rogers and Peralta each put up winning records in 2012, Peralta giving up just under a 2.5 ERA. Roenicke told reporters that he is excited about the pair, who each posses a nice array of pitches, as well as Thornburg.