Brewers still have rotation and bullpen decisions to make as end of spring training nears

SURPRISE, Ariz. – And then there were four.

When the Milwaukee Brewers optioned right-hander Aaron Wilkerson to minor-league camp Wednesday, it left four candidates vying for two open spots in the starting rotation: left-handers Brent Suter and Wade Miley, and right-handers Junior Guerra and Brandon Woodruff.

Wilkerson, 28, who spent most of 2017 at Class AA Biloxi before being summoned by the Brewers in September, went 1-1 with an 8.22 earned run average over five appearances covering 7 2/3 innings in Cactus League play before being cut.

“We went into camp with him on the list, and he started behind some of those other guys in the pecking order,” manager Craig Counsell said. “With their health and their performance, he just stayed there. Not due to anything he did but due to what everybody else has done. And we ran out of innings (to give Wilkerson).”

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Counsell said the plan for Wilkerson is for him to begin the season in the starting rotation for Class AAA Colorado Springs, where he pitched seven no-hit innings (11 strikeouts) in a playoff game last season.

With right-handers Chase Anderson, Zach Davies and Jhoulys Chacín guaranteed spots in the rotation, the battle continues for the two openings. Non-roster invitee Miley (1.38 ERA in four games with 15 strikeouts in 13 innings) and Suter, who started Thursday against Texas, have fared the best thus far but Guerra – the Brewers’ 2017 opening day starter -- and Woodruff have shown enough to stay in the equation.

While that battle goes on, Counsell and general manager David Stearns must decide whether they will break camp with four or five starters. With a day off April 1 after the opening three-game series in San Diego, they could go until the eighth game (April 6 vs. the Cubs) before using a fifth starter.

“It’s something that we’re considering, a little different way to go through the rotation the first time,” Counsell said. “Even if we do go that route, we’re going to need a starter quickly into the season, so it’s going to be limited time we can do that.”

With only two off days before April 23, Counsell prefers to carry eight relievers. If the Brewers also break camp with five starters, there doesn’t appear to be room for backup first baseman Jesús Aguilar, a big contributor off the bench last season (15 doubles, 16 homers, 52 RBI in 279 at-bats).

“That’s part of it,” Counsell said. “There is a way to have less relievers or less starters and the same number of relievers. Most of the scenarios of going with four (starters) involve carrying an additional position player.

“There’s value in extending that decision, not having to make it until you absolutely have to. The information changes on a daily basis, almost.”

Another factor is the possibility of an outside personnel move at the end of camp, as the Brewers have done in the first two springs under Stearns. They acquired reliever Carlos Torres in 2016 and reliever Jared Hughes last year.

“You have to allow for that,” Counsell said. “Will something happen we want to pursue at the end of camp? That’s the time players become available.”