The 3rd Man In
Home / MLB / Milwaukee Brewers / Brewers: Predicting the opening day roster

Brewers: Predicting the opening day roster

Brewers

In less than two weeks, the Milwaukee Brewers will begin the regular season with a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 28 at Miller Park.

After winning the NL Central over the Chicago Cubs, the Brewers made a run through the playoffs before falling one win short of making the World Series. The Brewers will once again have a competitive team. On paper, they’re the best team in the National League and will vie for the coveted World Series berth.

They have one of the deepest lineups in baseball and a talented bullpen headlined by left-hander Josh Hader – the game’s best reliever. The one question mark is their starting rotation. I still believe the Brewers should sign lefty Dallas Keuchel. But, if their current group can duplicate last year’s success, they’ll be a dangerous team to stop.

Here’s my opening day roster predictions for the Brewers:

Position Players (12)

Starters

  • Yasmani Grandal, C
  • Jesus Aguilar, 1B
  • Mike Moustakas, 2B
  • Orlando Arica, SS
  • Travis Shaw, 3B
  • Ryan Braun, OF
  • Lorenzo Cain, OF
  • Christian Yelich, OF

Bench

  • Manny Pina, C
  • Eric Thames, 1B
  • Ben Gamel, OF
  • Hernan Perez, UTIL

Pitchers (13)

Starting Rotation

  • Jhoulys Chacin, RHP
  • Chase Anderson, RHP
  • Zach Davies, RHP
  • Corbin Burnes, RHP
  • Brandon Woodruff, RHP

Bullpen

  • Josh Hader, LHP
  • Corey Knebel, RHP
  • Matt Albers, RHP
  • Junior Guerra, RHP
  • Jake Petricka, LHP
  • Jacob Barnes, RHP
  • Taylor Williams, RHP
  • Alex Claudio, LHP

With Jimmy Nelson and Jeremy Jeffress likely unavailable to start the season, it gives manager Craig Counsell some interesting decisions on who to keep, especially in the bullpen. Right-hander Freddy Peralta could make the opening day roster but expect the Brewers to send him to Triple-A to work as a starter.

The Brewers could keep 13 position players but with it being early in the season, expect them to keep more pitchers, especially since Counsell loves playing the matchups with his bullpen.