Could 'opener' solve Peralta's 1st-inning woes?

May 7th, 2019

MILWAUKEE -- Is an “opener” the solution for Freddy Peralta’s trouble in the first inning?

The Brewers are going to give it a shot.

Peralta is expected to pitch at some point in Tuesday’s 6:40 p.m. CT game against the Nationals at Miller Park, manager Craig Counsell said. Another young right-hander, Adrian Houser, will get the start. It’s Peralta’s day to pitch, but his spot in the starting rotation was called into question after he allowed nine runs (six earned) on eight hits in four innings against the Rockies earlier in this homestand.

Colorado scored four runs in the first inning, when Peralta’s opponents have slashed .464/.559/.964 while scoring 15 first-inning runs on 13 hits and four walks in five games. In his 20 career appearances that included work in the first inning, Peralta has allowed 28 earned runs in the opening frame.

After trying other tactics to get Peralta past that inning, having a “reliever” start the game was raised as an option.

“We’re allowed to do that, yeah,” said Counsell.

But are they likely to do it?

“It’s on the table,” Counsell said. “We need [Peralta] to pitch [Tuesday], for sure. We need innings from him. The first inning has been an issue for him. I thought he threw the ball really well in the first inning against Colorado. I really did. I thought it was one of his best first innings, stuff-wise, that we’ve seen from him. He’s just gotten snake-bitten that inning. So [there is thought to] taking that away from him for a little time and seeing what happens.

“But we don’t know if that’s the long-term answer for this. It’s more of a short-term, quick fix-type thing. Other than that, he’s got to focus on making pitches. He has an elite pitch [in Peralta’s unique multi-grip four-seam fastball], but he has to locate it to get results.”

Houser is a hybrid of both roles, having served as Triple-A San Antonio’s Opening Day starter before serving both roles in a pair of callups for the Brewers, most recently out of the bullpen.

The Brewers’ current bullpen construction is conducive to creativity. It features three players who are stretched out as starters: Corbin Burnes, Houser and Burch Smith.

Counsell employed an opener to some effect late last season, beginning with left-hander Dan Jennings facing one batter (Matt Carpenter) on Sept. 24 in St. Louis. Counsell also sent lefty Wade Miley to the mound for Game 5 of the 2018 National League Championship Series to coax a Dodgers lineup more favorable to Brandon Woodruff, who came into the game after one batter, though the Brewers lost that game. Miley then started Game 6.

Nelson gets a start
In his first regular-season start since he injured his shoulder in September 2017, Jimmy Nelson began a rehab assignment with Triple-A San Antonio on Sunday, where he was charged with three runs on two hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. He threw 72 pitches, 40 strikes.

Most importantly, however, was his health.

“The report was he’s healthy and feeling good,” Counsell said. “He’ll start Saturday night again. That’s about it. He needs to pitch. … He needs to log innings against good competition.”

The other factor, Counsell said, was acknowledging Nelson had a busy week leading up to his outing. It was a happy week, to be sure, since Nelson’s assignment was delayed seven days by the premature birth of twins following wife Melissa’s challenging pregnancy. Once that situation stabilized, Nelson went back to work.

Nelson will work out at the Brewers’ training facility in Phoenix between starts. Saturday’s game is in New Orleans, and if that goes off without a hitch, Nelson would pitch again six days after that at home, Counsell said.

“He’s hoping for some normalcy in his schedule as much as anything,” Counsell said.

Last call
• As expected, Lorenzo Cain was absent from the starting lineup for Monday’s series opener against the Nationals. The off-day was planned before Cain crashed into the center field wall for a catch in the top of the sixth inning of Sunday’s win over the Mets, then was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the bottom of that inning. X-rays were negative and Cain sustained only a bruise.

• Smith, promoted from the Minors on Sunday, was feeling more alert Monday after a decent night of sleep. He got the callup at midnight Saturday, while the Brewers were wrapping up an 18-inning win over the Mets, and had to pack before catching a 7:45 a.m. CT flight.

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Supervising Club Reporter Adam McCalvy has covered the Brewers for MLB.com since 2001.