Milwaukee Brewers DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) threw two innings in a minor-league game on Friday and was up to 95 mph on the radar gun, according to manager Pat Murphy. Woodruff will go with the team to New York to face the Yankees on Opening Day next Thursday and will throw an extended bullpen session in the Bronx before returning to Milwaukee for a long simulated game. After that, the 32-year-old veteran will begin a minor-league rehab assignment before eventually making his 2025 debut. There's still no timetable for Woodruff to make his first major-league start since 2023 after having shoulder surgery, and fantasy managers shouldn't expect that to happen until at least some point in March. His extended absence means he'll have limited fantasy upside in 2025 due to an innings limit, but the former ace is still worth stashing in most fantasy leagues.

Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Caleb Durbin is expected to make the Opening Day roster. Jack Stern of the Brewer Fanatic noted that with Andruw Monasterio being optioned to Triple-A, Durbin has a clear path to breaking camp with the major league team. Earlier in the offseason, the Brewers acquired Durbin alongside Nestor Cortes Jr. from the New York Yankees in exchange for closer Devin Williams. Durbin has held a .222/.296/.375 slash line with one double, two home runs, and three stolen bases across 16 contests. Last summer, the 25-year-old spent most of his campaign at the Triple-A level. Through 82 contests, Durbin posted a .287/.396/.471 slash line with 23 doubles, 10 home runs, and 29 stolen bases. He is an intriguing late-round option in deeper formats as he carries elite speed upside.

Per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Nick Mears (illness) is set to begin the season on the injured list. Mears reportedly lost ten pounds due to a severe stomach illness he picked up last week and will require some building-up before he is game-ready. Fortunately, he returned to the mound on Monday, but will still need a series of bullpen sessions and sim games to get back up to speed. The 28-year-old spent time with the Brewers and Rockies last season, striking out nearly a third of the batters he faced (29.3%) while dropping his walk percentage into single digits for the first time in his career (9.4%). Though Mears' ERA stood at a bloated 5.93, he severely underperformed his xERA of 3.31, which was more in line with his 2023 production -- albeit in far fewer innings. Fantasy managers can expect him back around the time he's eligible to return in mid-April.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Brice Turang (shoulder) will open the season as their starting second baseman. Turang was in contention to shift to shortstop, but the team will opt to move Joey Ortiz to that position and keep Turang at the keystone. The 25-year-old is also batting shoulder soreness, but this injury is not viewed as "serious." Last season, Turang made 152 starts at the keystone. Across 155 total games last summer, Turang posted a .254/.316/.349 with seven home runs. Most of his fantasy value came from his speed as he swiped 50 bags, the third-most in the National League. Under the hood, Turang held a strong 17.0 percent strikeout rate but generated a low .297 xwOBA. Fantasy managers should view Turang as a low-end No. 1 second baseman and will carry most of his value in category formats as a speed specialist.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz will start the season at shortstop. During camp, Ortiz began to take reps at shortstop to fill the void left by Willy Adames. There was speculation that Brice Turang could also move to this position, but Ortiz was able to earn the job. Last season, the 26-year-old spent the vast majority of his time at the hot corner. Across 142 contests, Ortiz held a .239/.329/.398 slash line with 25 doubles, six triples, and 11 home runs. He drew walks at an elite 11.0 percent rate but generated a low .305 xwOBA. However, Ortiz was graded as an elite defender as he placed in the 96th percentile in range, according to Statcast. He also swiped 11 bags and placed in the 85th percentile in sprint speed. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should view Ortiz as a reliable depth infielder, as he should have an everyday role in the lineup and will carry multi-positional eligibility.