Milwaukee Brewers' Starters Are in Shambles, But Bullpen Is Flexible

The Brewers rode CC into the playoffs, but unfortunately he cannot pitch every game this October. CC gives the bullpen a rest every time he pitches, given that he leads the National League in complete games and shutouts.

However, with Ben Sheets out for the year, there is virtually no other starter that is known for eating up innings, so the Milwaukee bullpen is going to be called on frequently and in very important spots. What does the bullpen look like coming into the postseason?

Long Relief

Manny Parra: Parra has been solid out of bullpen lately, is another lefty arm, can eat innings, and is significantly better the first time through the lineup. Opponents are only batting .236 with 24 runs in the [batters'] first plate appearance (291 total PA) but hitters are batting .288 with 32 runs the second time around (262 PA) and .327 with 25 runs (only 188 PA) the third time through the order.

He should be limited to two to three innings of work in the postseason, to avoid seeing hitters more than once. 

Carlos Villanueva: He has been solid coming out of the bullpen this year, and he should be called on to eat up multiple innings. He is also better the first time through a lineup, so two to three innings should be his maximum as well.

Seth McClung: There has been talk of moving McClung into the closer’s role because of how well he has pitched out of the bullpen and the inconsistencies of the rest of our late-inning relievers.

Here are his clutch stats numbers and his stats by inning. Clearly, Seth’s two most effective innings (in relief) have been the sixth and seventh innings. He has pitched pretty well in “Late and Close” situations as well.

With Ned Yost now gone, I cannot suggest the unorthodox move: switching the closer heading into the postseason. However, if a save or big lead is blown, we may not have many other options but to bring in McClung to close it out.

Late-Inning Relievers

Guillermo Mota: Over the last 28 days, Mota has allowed only three runs and two of those runs came in the latest Pirates series (a game we eventually won). He has been locating his fastball extremely well lately, and he has handled the eighth inning very well. No reason to take him out of that role unless he begins to struggle again.

Brian Shouse: He should only be used against lefties, as demonstrated here.

Eric Gagne: Gagne hasn’t given up a run since Sept. 5, and during that run, he has lowered his ERA from 6.69 to 5.44. Unfortunately for him, 5.44 is still horrible. He has been pitching in the seventh-inning role lately, but with the way McClung has been pitching, he probably shouldn’t stay there.

He should be allowed some important innings, but he also should be held on a short leash, because when he loses it, he really loses it (he has given up three runs or more in one IP or less four times this year).

Salomon Torres: On Sept. 5, Torres has his lowest ERA for the season (except a four-day stretch in late June) to 2.40. Since then, his ERA has consistently climbed and he is now at 3.49, and he gave up runs in five of 10 appearances.

There are a lot of words I could use to describe his decline this September, but the team was no better than he was. The good news is that he has posted a 2.91 ERA in save situations and a 4.17 in non-save situations.

He shouldn’t see much or any action in non-save situations in the postseason, so I feel safe with leaving him as the closer.

Of course, all of these opinions are subject to change if any of these pitchers begin to impersonate the Mets' bullpen.

All stats courtesy of www.baseball-reference.com

Zach Bowers