Yovani Gallardo moved to relief as the Brewers' rotation battle intensifies

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Yovani Gallardo throws in the bullpen Friday.

PHOENIX – The pool of competitors trying to win one of the two final spots in the Milwaukee Brewers' rotation this spring shrunk by one on Monday, when manager Craig Counsell announced that Yovani Gallardo would move to the bullpen.

With two weeks remaining in camp, it would appear that left-handers Wade Miley and Brent Suter are the leading candidates to join Chase Anderson, Zach Davies and Jhoulys Chacín.

Junior Guerra and Brandon Woodruff are also in the mix.

"At this point we're going to shorten Yovani up into some bullpen stints," Counsell said. "You saw yesterday with Wade pitching five innings, so there's less innings in the bullpen now. We can't get nine starters ready out there in a big-league game.

“How we’re constructed now, (relief) is how we’re looking at him. But I will tell you that could change. That’s not in stone."

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It's been a challenging spring for the 32-year-old Gallardo, a 2004 second-round draft pick of the Brewers who holds the franchise record for strikeouts and ranks in the top 10 in most other pitching categories.

Through four appearances he is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA and has given up two home runs in eight innings. But Gallardo's struggles have come while trying to remake his pitching style at the Brewers' behest by pitching up in strike zone more.

Gallardo made his only spring start against Oakland on March 9 and gave up a first-inning home run to former teammate Khris Davis. He allowed two hits and two walks and struck out three the rest of the way in a three-inning outing.

Of Gallardo's 298 appearances, 289 have come as a starter. He made six relief appearances last season while with the Seattle Mariners and went 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA.

The one-year, $2 million, non-guaranteed contract he signed with the Brewers on Dec. 21 included incentives based on innings pitched and appearances.

The Brewers already have six spots spoken for in their bullpen, starting with closer Corey Knebel. Also in are Josh Hader, Jacob Barnes, Matt Albers, Boone Logan and Jeremy Jeffress.

Youngster Taylor Williams has turned heads with the way he's pitched so far this spring and could be in the mix. Veterans Oliver Drake, J.J. Hoover and Ernesto Frieri are also competing with Gallardo for what could be one or two open spots depending on whether the Brewers keep seven or eight relievers.

Counsell also said the possibility remains that Guerra and other current starters could enter the bullpen fray if and when they're eliminated from rotation contention.

Keeping Gallardo would give the Brewers a reliever capable of pitching long stints as well as someone who could slide back into the rotation.

"The idea that he's obviously done it and could do it, and if we need someone to do it, he's there," said Counsell.