MILWAUKEE – Rookie pitchers Jacob Misiorowski and Robert Gasser are in. Rhys Hoskins is out. And the Brewers’ roster for their supercharged National League Division Series against the rival Cubs is set.
The Brewers are going with 12 pitchers and 14 position players for the best-of-five series -- and the final decisions, as they usually do, came down to the bullpen.
But there was no question in recent days about including 6-foot-7 rookie Misiorowski, despite a 5.89 ERA over his last nine appearances beginning with the July 28 start against the Cubs in which he was hit on the right shin by a Seiya Suzuki comebacker that ultimately sent him to the injured list, and sent his promising season in a different direction.
But that’s history. Looking forward, Misiorowski, who made one relief appearance during the final regular season series against the Reds to prepare for this moment, has an opportunity to write a new ending to the story of his rookie season.
“In terms of the roster, we put in a lot of hours talking about it and I think in some cases we can justify a lot of different permutations of that roster,” Brewers GM Matt Arnold said. “I think with Miz in particular, look, I think what we're looking at is Game 1 Freddy [Peralta], and then beyond that it's just pretty much all hands on deck. I think Miz will certainly be part of that.
“But, obviously, he's going to have to go out there and perform just like everybody else -- and I think his role is still to be determined. I think a lot of that has to do with the matchup and the situation and all those things involved. But that's been a great part of our team, is that we just have so many guys that are just willing to say, ‘Hey, just give me the ball, whatever it takes and I'm going to get the job done.’ I think he's certainly going to get that opportunity.”
Also getting an opportunity is Gasser, who joined the Brewers in September after completing his comeback from Tommy John surgery and made a pair of abbreviated starts. His role in the postseason is to be determined, including the possibility of a start.
“The last pitcher decision came down to the opponent,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “Looking at left-handed options for them, who we might [face] -- where can this 12th pitcher exploit something about them or be in a serviceable role and give us a little bit of length? We went to that.”
Left off the NLDS roster, however, was Hoskins, whose $18 million salary makes him the Brewers’ second-highest-paid player behind Christian Yelich, and whose 20 career postseason games makes him Milwaukee’s most seasoned October veteran. But Hoskins, set to be a free agent this winter, lost first-base duties to Andrew Vaughn after Hoskins suffered a left thumb injury on July 5 in Miami, then made only one start from his Sept. 9 return from the IL through the end of the regular season.
That was a fairly clear sign that he wasn’t part of the Brewers’ postseason plans. Instead, they will continue to use a mix of Vaughn and lefty-hitting Jake Bauers at first base, with Andruw Monasterio available to cover the position in the event of late-inning pinch-hit moves.
“The Rhys [move] is very difficult because he has playoff experience,” Murphy said. “He's been a leader of this team. It's a tough decision. But we felt like the need for [Brandon] Lockridge specifically [was important] because of his ability to run, steal a base, his proficiency at it. And his ability to play great defense in the outfield and conduct ABs can't be denied.”
Here’s the full 26-man roster:
Pitchers (12): RHP Grant Anderson, LHP Aaron Ashby, LHP Robert Gasser, LHP Jared Koenig, RHP Nick Mears, RHP Trevor Megill, RHP Jacob Misiorowski, RHP Freddy Peralta, RHP Chad Patrick, RHP Quinn Priester, LHP Jose Quintana, RHP Abner Uribe
Catchers (2): William Contreras, Danny Jansen
Infielders (6): Jake Bauers, Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, Joey Ortiz, Brice Turang, Andrew Vaughn
Outfielders (6): Jackson Chourio, Isaac Collins, Sal Frelick, Brandon Lockridge, Blake Perkins, Christian Yelich