As expected, no surprises on Brewers' roster

It’s go time for the Brewers. And no, they did not sneak Craig Kimbrel or Dallas Keuchel into Miller Park before the first pitch of Opening Day.

The deadline to set a 25-man roster was 11 a.m. CT on Thursday, a little more than two hours before Jhoulys Chacín’s scheduled first pitch against the Cardinals at Miller Park. And the 2019 Brewers looked like this:

Catcher (2): Yasmani Grandal, Manny Piña.

Grandal, a switch-hitter who was the best catcher available on last winter’s free-agent market, surprisingly landed with the Brewers when he was willing to take a one-year contract in January. That pushed strong-armed Pina into a reserve role and gave the Brewers their most solid tandem at the position since Jonathan Lucroy was in his All-Star prime five years ago, with Martin Maldonado as a defense-first backup.

In the wings: Jacob Nottingham, Tuffy Gosewisch.

First base (2): Jesús Aguilar, Eric Thames.
Last year, these two were reversed, with Thames in the starting role. But an early season thumb injury opened an opportunity for Aguilar, who slashed .298/.373/.621 with 24 home runs and 70 RBIs in the first half to win a spot in the All-Star Game. Aguilar slowed after the break but still finished second on the team to National League MVP Christian Yelich in home runs (35) and RBIs (108). Thames, entering the last season of a three-year contract, has a habit of power-packed Aprils, but that will be a challenge in limited playing time. He could also pick up some at-bats at a corner outfield spot.

In the wings: Travis Shaw is probably the third-string first baseman. If a callup is needed, Nottingham can man first base.

Second base (1): Mike Moustakas.
The plan going into Spring Training was to platoon Hernán Pérez and Cory Spangenberg at this position, but the Brewers instead signed Moustakas for one year and $10 million. He slashed .256/.326/.441 in 218 plate appearances for Milwaukee during the regular season and will be aiming for more in his first full year with the club. Installing him at second base for one year instead of third sets up a more seamless transition to rising middle infield prospects Keston Hiura, their No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline and the 20th best in baseball, and No. 5 prospect Mauricio Dubón.

In the wings: Perez, Spangenberg, Tyler Saladino, Nate Orf, Hiura, Dubon.

Third base (1): Shaw.
Shaw has belted 31 and 32 home runs in his two seasons with Milwaukee while playing a solid third base. He is motivated to improve his platoon splits this season after posting a .599 OPS against left-handed pitchers a year ago compared to .892 against righties. Shaw doesn’t want to give manager Craig Counsell any reason to give right-handed-hitting Perez any at-bats at the hot corner.

In the wings: Perez, Saladino, Spangenberg, Lucas Erceg.

Shortstop (1): Orlando Arcia.
Arcia was demoted to the Minor Leagues last season amid a brutal hitting slump, but his strong finish -- .803 OPS from Sept. 1-Oct. 1, .959 OPS in the postseason -- offered some hope for a long-awaited breakout. His defense is his strong suit.

In the wings: Perez, Spangenberg, Dubon.

Outfield (4): Ryan Braun, Lorenzo Cain, Yelich, Ben Gamel.
Cain and Yelich will try to replicate career years. Braun, who can point to statistical evidence of hitting into hard luck last season, will hope for better after implementing some tweaks to his swing. As in recent seasons, Braun will require regular days off, so left-handed-hitting Gamel figures to get extensive at-bats.

In the wings: Tyrone Taylor, Troy Stokes Jr., Corey Ray.

Utility (1): Perez
The only position Perez has yet to play in the Major Leagues is catcher. He reminds Counsell of that on a regular basis.

Starting pitchers (5): Chacin, Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes, Zach Davies.
“It’s time” to give the young guys a shot, Counsell declared at the end of camp, referring to the unproven Peralta, Woodruff and Burnes. Instead of signing a free agent like Keuchel, the Brewers are betting that their own arms can deliver enough quality innings to avoid overusing a bullpen bitten by the injury bug. Last year’s Opening Day starter, Chase Anderson, will begin the year in the bullpen but surely will make some starts along the way. Jimmy Nelson is an unknown after shoulder surgery led to him missing all of last season. He recently received a cortisone shot for a sore elbow.

In the wings: Anderson, Nelson, Adrian Houser, Aaron Wilkerson, Zack Brown.

Relief pitchers (8): Josh Hader (L), Alex Claudio (L), Matt Albers, Alex Wilson, Junior Guerra, Jacob Barnes, Taylor Williams, Anderson.
The bullpen was the Brewers’ strength last season, but the unit was depleted in spring by health matters. Jeremy Jeffress is working his way back from a bout of arm weakness. Corey Knebel is out for a while with a damaged UCL in his elbow. Bobby Wahl is probably sidelined for the whole season following ACL surgery. Hader thrives when he gets suitable rest, which could prove Counsell’s biggest challenge while navigating a tough early season schedule against mostly contending teams. The Brewers had some talks with the top free-agent closer, Kimbrel, but never came remotely close to striking a deal.

In the wings: Josh Fields, Jake Petricka, Houser, Brown.

Just like last year, there will be a lot of moving parts all season between the Brewers and their top affiliates. Here’s how the 25-man roster is expected to look on Opening Day:

CATCHERS

Yasmani Grandal

Manny Pina

INFIELDERS

Jesus Aguilar

Orlando Arcia

Mike Moustakas

Travis Shaw

Eric Thames

OUTFIELDERS

Ryan Braun

Lorenzo Cain

Ben Gamel

Christian Yelich

UTILITY

Hernan Perez

STARTING PITCHERS

Jhoulys Chacin

Freddy Peralta

Brandon Woodruff

Corbin Burnes

Zach Davies

RELIEF PITCHERS

Josh Hader (L)

Alex Claudio (L)

Matt Albers

Alex Wilson

Junior Guerra

Jacob Barnes

Taylor Williams

Chase Anderson

INJURED LIST

Corey Knebel

Jeremy Jeffress

Jimmy Nelson

Brent Suter

Bobby Wahl