Brent Suter and Brandon Woodruff win the Brewers' final two rotation spots

PHOENIX - The Milwaukee Brewers had a few different ways they could have constructed their 2018 starting rotation.

In the end, youth and potential won out.

Manager Craig Counsell announced Saturday that both Brent Suter and Brandon Woodruff had earned starting jobs, with Suter taking his first turn in the finale of the team's opening series in San Diego.

Woodruff, meanwhile, will open in the bullpen and then is expected to slide into the fifth spot in the rotation on April 6 against the Chicago Cubs at Miller Park.

"For Brent, it's about getting outs and how he can get the most outs for us," Counsell said. "We think he can pitch more innings and get more outs as a starter. There will be times and situations when we shorten up some of his appearances but for now, the way for him to get the most outs is to start games.

"Brandon is a young starting pitcher who we feel needs to experience the big leagues. Certainly, he has room for growth but we think he's getting better and we need to see that at the big league level.

"He's ready to win games for us, I think."

Suter, who will serve as the lone left-hander in the rotation to open the season, went 2-1 with a 5.40 earned-run average in six appearances (four starts) with 18 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings.

He didn't allow a run over his first four outings but then was hit hard in his final two, allowing 14 hits (including three home runs), 10 runs and three walks. He undertook a vigorous strength and conditioning program in the off-season in an attempt to pitch more effectively deeper into his starts.

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Suter, 28, was a valuable swingman for the Brewers in 2017, going 3-2 with a 3.42 ERA in 22 appearances (81 2/3 innings), including 14 starts.

Woodruff, 25, went 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA and 15 strikeouts in five appearances (two starts, 12 2/3 innings overall) this spring. He had one rough inning in his final start Friday, a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park.

He advanced to the major leagues for the first time last season, going 2-3 with a 4.81 ERA in eight starts. His debut last Aug. 4 was one of his finest performances, as he pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out six in beating the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Brewers had some more experienced options competing with Suter and Woodruff earlier in the spring in Yovani Gallardo, Wade Miley and Junior Guerra.

Gallardo was removed from consideration about midway through camp and shifted to the bullpen. He went 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA overall and was informed on Saturday that he wouldn't make the opening-day roster.

"As we got into that bullpen discussion, it didn't quite fit with Yo," general manager David Stearns said. "This was the first time I got to know him. He was great to have around. He helped a lot of young guys.

"So, that's not easy. Especially given his history here."

Miley, a veteran left-hander, appeared to be on track to earning one of the two rotation spots until suffering a left-groin strain in his final start on Wednesday. He'll now rehab the injury and attempt to work his way onto the team once he's healthy, which is expected to be a 2-4 week window.

Guerra, the Brewers' opening-day starter in 2017, posted a 3.15 ERA in six spring appearances (five starts). But he was ultimately optioned to Class AAA Colorado Springs, with the team needing to see more evidence he's closer to rediscovering the form that helped him go 9-3 with a 2.81 ERA in 20 starts in 2016.

"As we talked through it, we wanted to make sure that Junior stays on a regular schedule, pitching every five days," Stearns said. "We saw some really good signs out of Junior this spring: His velocity came back a little bit, his split looked good at times.

"He's going to be a part of this mix. 'Woody' performed pretty well for us down the stretch last year. That was meaningful, and that played a part in this decision. We want to allow him to continue to make some more progress."

One thing that's almost certain is the Brewers will need multiple options for their rotation; they used 13 starters in 2017.