Previewing the Milwaukee Brewers’ 2015 starting rotation

Sep 20, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Matt Garza (22) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Garza

Matt Garza also had a solid 2014 for Milwaukee.

Garza had 11 no-decisions in 27 starts.  He missed about a month with an oblique injury in August.

He finished the season 8-8 with a 3.64 ERA in 163.1 innings pitched.

Matt showed points of brilliance, but also had forgettable starts in 2014.  He threw a two-hit shutout in Cincinnati on July 5 against the Reds in probably the best outing any Brewer had in 2014.

However, that was quickly followed by an outing Garza would like to forget.  He only lasted one out during their July 19 game against the Washington Nationals.  Garza threw 42 pitches and gave up five runs while only recording one out during that summer outing.

If there’s one bright spot fans should know through all of Garza’s inconsistency, it’s that the man doesn’t give up many home runs.

Matt only gave up 12 home runs during the 2014 season.  To put that in perspective, it was the lowest of any starting pitcher from last year’s Opening Day rotation (Gallardo, Lohse, Peralta, Marco Estrada) and it was two less than our closer, Francisco Rodriguez.

You read that correctly.  Starting pitcher Matt Garza pitched 163.1 innings and gave up 12 home runs, while K-Rod pitched only 68.0 innings and gave up 14 home runs.  It’s up to you to decide if that says more about Garza or K-Rod, but the point is Matt keeps the ball in the yard.

Garza will seemingly be moving up a spot in the rotation this year due to Yovani’s absence, and it’s very plausible for Matt to have an even better season this year.

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