Milwaukee Brewers: A Midseason Status Check

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The real issue that will make or break Milwaukee's playoff run is whether their shaky starting pitching can keep them in the race.

The Brewers, like many teams, are going to be in the market for another starter, and are perilously thin in the rotation right now.

For all of their organizational depth with position players, the Brewers really have no one else in the pipes to call up if a second half injury occurs, meaning that GM Doug Melvin will likely have to make some kind of move to ensure an injury doesn't derail their playoff aspirations.

Right now beyond ace Yovani Gallardo, Milwaukee is relying on three .500 pitchers in Looper, Bush, and Suppan, and either journeyman Mike Burns or the enigmatic Manny Parra to carry them to the playoffs.

Those names don't exactly instill the fear of God into opposing hitters.

While Burns did manage to out-duel Johan Santana recently, his track record as a fringe major leaguer indicates that relying on him as a rotation guy in a pennant race may be a mistake.

Parra obviously has the raw talent and stuff to be a solid starter, but he hasn't proven to be mentally ready as a major league pitcher. 

With Dave Bush currently on the DL and Milwaukee being forced to use long reliever Seth McClung as a starter from time to time, Melvin has been rumored to be kicking the tires on guys like Doug Davis and Jon Garland.

While neither name carries the sex appeal or impact of a Cliff Lee or Jake Peavy, the Brewers will likely have to add another arm or two in the mold of an innings-eater like Davis to help save the bullpen and prevent the team from trotting out a young pitcher that isn't major-league ready.

Brewer fans remember what happened a few years back when Zach Jackson and a young Carlos Villanueva imploded at the back-end of the Brewer rotation and sabotaged a potential winning season for the Crew.

Melvin doesn't seem open to trading another top-flight prospect like Alcides Escobar or Mat Gamel, so Brewer fans need to temper their hopes for another Sabathia-like blockbuster.

Ultimately, if the Brewers can find a No. 5 starter that can chew up innings and produce some quality starts and they can stay healthy, their powerful offense and stellar bullpen should be able to carry them into the playoffs yet again in 2009.

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