Brewers Open to Using Angel Zerpa as Starting Pitcher

The Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals just pulled off a low-key, three-player trade that might shake up Milwaukee’s rotation plans down the road. Isaac Collins and Nick Mears are heading to Kansas City, while lefty Angel Zerpa comes to the Brewers.

This isn’t just about swapping players. The real story is how Milwaukee might take a shot at reviving Zerpa’s starting pitcher potential.

Brewers Bet on Angel Zerpa’s Upside

From Milwaukee’s point of view, this is a classic upside gamble. Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold has already said they’re open to moving Angel Zerpa back into a starter’s role.

That says a lot about how the Brewers view his ceiling. Zerpa started his pro career as a starter and still has that foundation.

Injuries, team needs, and performance tweaks have pushed him mostly into the bullpen lately. Still, the raw tools are there. If you’re Milwaukee, that’s got to be tempting.

A Reliever’s Workload With Starter Traits

Across the 2024–25 seasons, Zerpa threw 118 1/3 innings with a 4.03 ERA, a 20.8% strikeout rate, and a hefty 60.6% groundball rate. That’s the kind of stat line you want from a rotation candidate, even if he’s been wearing a reliever’s label.

The innings show he’s durable, the ERA holds up, and the groundball numbers suggest he could handle longer outings. Milwaukee’s pitching department has a knack for finding arms like this—guys who’ve shown flashes in relief but might have more to give as starters.

Scouting the Arsenal: Power Lefty With Groundball Gear

Zerpa’s stuff checks a lot of boxes for modern front offices, especially from the left side. His pitch mix already works in the big leagues, but whether he sticks as a late-inning guy or becomes a mid-rotation starter depends on refining it.

A 96 mph Fastball and a Heavy Sinker

He averaged 96.2 mph on his fastball in 2025, which is impressive for a lefty. His sinker stands out as his best pitch, driving that elite groundball rate and helping him avoid big damage on contact.

Right now, Zerpa leans on his slider and four-seam fastball. When he’s on, hitters either pound the ball into the dirt or whiff entirely.

But when those pitches miss their spots, he gives up too much hard contact and struggles against righties. That’s the weak spot in his game.

Key Adjustment: Trusting the Changeup

If Zerpa’s going to make it as a starter again, the Brewers will probably ask him to use his changeup more. That pitch is essential for lefty starters who need to handle right-handed hitters and face lineups multiple times.

His troubles against righties and the amount of hard contact he allows are the biggest things holding him back from starting full-time. A better, more confident changeup could:

Milwaukee has a solid track record of helping pitchers refine their secondary stuff. That’s exactly what Zerpa needs right now.

How Zerpa Fits into Milwaukee’s Rotation Picture

On paper, the Brewers have a deep pitching staff and don’t need immediate help in the rotation. But let’s be real—front offices plan for more than just Opening Day.

Present Depth, Future Uncertainty

Milwaukee’s rotation is led by Freddy Peralta and Brandon Woodruff, but both could hit free agency soon. That uncertainty makes every addition matter, especially with Zerpa being young and under team control.

Zerpa gives them options:

He’s entering his first year of arbitration this offseason, with a projected salary of just $1.2 million. For a team like the Brewers, a cost-controlled, high-upside lefty is exactly the kind of player they like to take chances on.

What the Trade Means for Both Clubs

From Kansas City’s standpoint, adding Isaac Collins and Nick Mears gives them depth and some intriguing utility at a few spots on the roster.

For Milwaukee, this deal feels like a long play about pitching development and future rotation planning.

The Brewers have a knack for working with arms—turning unheralded relievers into late-inning weapons and nudging mid-tier prospects into real starters.

So, Angel Zerpa might be stepping into the perfect environment for his skill set.

Whether he sticks in the bullpen or somehow grows into a rotation mainstay, Milwaukee looks ready to squeeze real value out of him.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Brewers “Open To” Using Angel Zerpa As A Starter