PHOENIX -- Brewers manager Craig Counsell is not ready to reveal his plans for the season-opening pitching rotation beyond Thursday’s announcement that Jhoulys Chacin will start Opening Day. But the youngest of Milwaukee’s camp competitors is making a strong case for Major League innings.

Freddy Peralta, 22, has impressed with increased velocity in his spring starts, sitting in the 93-94 mph range, and touching radar gun readings higher than that. He averaged about 91 mph last season, when Peralta threw his variety of fastballs for nearly 80 percent of his pitches, and held opponents to a .178 average with 96 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings.

“The most noticeable thing about Freddy -- I would say Corbin Burnes [as well] -- is that the velocity has picked up,” Counsell said. “Especially if you go back to late August where he finished the season last year.”

Part of that could be attributed to Peralta’s offseason conditioning in the Dominican Republic. And part is simply “him growing up as a man,” said Counsell, noting Peralta’s young age.

There’s more to Peralta’s fastball than velocity, however. He has two distinct four-seam fastball grips, creating cutting action on one of them. His high spin rate creates a riding action to the pitch. And Peralta’s long arms mean he releases the baseball closer to home plate than other pitchers his size.

“It’s a very unique fastball, and hitters don’t like pitches they never see,” Counsell said. “They don’t see that fastball -- ever. And they don’t hit it well for that reason. What’s strange is when fastballs down the middle are swung at and missed. That’s odd.”

The key for Peralta is keeping those pitches in the strike zone. He cites progress in that area this spring, in spite of three walks against the Angels in his most recent outing Thursday.

“I’m really happy because my fastball is going really good. I’m hitting the right spots with the fastball and my curveball, too,” Peralta said. “It’s really fun, the confidence that I have with my fastball right now.”

The way Counsell looks at it, the Brewers will begin the season with a six-man starting rotation, even though one of those six may be at Triple-A San Antonio. The five pitchers behind Chacin -- Zach Davies, Chase Anderson, Peralta, Brandon Woodruff and Burnes -- all have Minor League options.

Plus, there’s Jimmy Nelson, who is scheduled to pitch again Saturday. However, he will not be active on Opening Day.

“Chacin is in the rotation. That’s where we started the spring. We haven’t made any other decisions yet,” Counsell said. “I would say our goal is to do it before we leave here, certainly. Probably by the middle of next week.”

Woodruff, Tomlin impress

Pitching dominated the Brewers’ 6-2 win over the Padres on Friday, with Woodruff scattering two hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in five scoreless innings, and Josh Tomlin covering the final four frames while allowing two hits and two runs (one earned). Tomlin, 34, is a non-roster invitee trying to crack the rotation -- and a full 40-man roster.

“We’re healthy in that department, so that’s going to be an issue right there for him,” Counsell said. “You don’t know where you stand on a day-to-day basis [in terms of injuries], but Josh has done his job. I think we’ve got a lot of other guys who are doing their job, too. Our starters have largely performed, and we’re in a good spot health-wise with them.”

Woodruff is working on his two-seam fastball this spring, a pitch he emphasized late last season and into the postseason to great effect. He was particularly pleased with that pitch against the Padres.

Is it stressful, awaiting the Brewers’ roster decisions?

“You kind of found out last year that it’s going to take a lot of people to get through a full season,” Woodruff said. “People like to call it a big competition, but I think we’re all in it together. We know everybody is going to have to be used because it’s a very long season. Typically, you don’t run out guys for 34 starts [apiece].”

Last call

Jeremy Jeffress won’t get back on the mound until next week, said Counsell, so Jeffress remains more likely than not to open the season on the injured list. Jeffress, whose schedule was slowed by right shoulder weakness, has been playing catch in recent days, and Counsell did not report any setbacks.

Up next

In his first start since being named the Brewers’ Opening Day starter, Jhoulys Chacin will take the mound against the Rockies as part of split-squad action on Saturday afternoon. While Chacin pitches at home with Ryan Braun and Christian Yelich behind him, rotation candidate Burnes will get the ball to start another game against the Royals in Surprise, Ariz. Both first pitches are scheduled for 3:05 p.m. CT, and the home game will air on the Brewers’ radio network.