If the club gets near 35 starts out their ace, they almost surely will be in the race for the division crown.

The final installment of the UWM Post“s position by position preview of the Milwaukee Brewers“ 2007 season lands at an area that is always critical to any club“s fortunes: starting pitching.

For the first time in several years, the Brewers“ five-man starting rotation had been determined before spring training was even close to beginning. It is a rotation that has been called by many the cream of the crop of the National League Central Division. In order of their spot in rotation:

BEN SHEETS: Right-hander Ben Sheets headlines the rotation again this season and will make the opening day start for the fifth time in his career with Milwaukee.

If the club gets near 35 starts out their ace, they almost surely will be in the race for the division crown. After making 34 starts every year from 2002 to 2004, Sheets started only 22 games in 2005 and 17 games last season.

There is no doubt he can perform at the level of his 264-strikeout season in 2004, which included an 18-strikeout game. He has messed around in spring training with a change up to go along with his power fastball and devastating curveball.

CHRIS CAPUANO: Left-handed Chris Capuano“s 2006 season was a tale of two halves. In the first half, he pitched well enough to be a named replacement on the NL All-Star team. But the second half saw his numbers drop and he finished with a 4.49 ERA.

Still, he led the majors in quality starts (six-plus innings pitched with no more than three runs allowed). His exceptional cut fastball makes him effective against hitters from both sides of the plate.

Capuano, who won 18 games in 2005 with the Crew, also has a supreme pick-off move that makes him one of the toughest pitchers in baseball to run on.

JEFF SUPPAN: The Brewers“ most significant off-season addition came in the person of the National League Championship Series MVP Jeff Suppan, who was signed as a free agent from St. Louis. Suppan, 32, is the Brewers“ oldest starting pitcher and had a 4.12 ERA in 2006.

The right-hander“s calling card is his ability to mix speeds on his pitches to keep hitters off balance. His durability is unquestioned as Suppan has made 31 or more starts in the past seven seasons. Suppan“s big-game experience could come in handy.

DAVE BUSH: Bush, a righty, was a pleasant surprise last year as he originally was the fifth starter but eventually became the third man in the rotation.

Bush, who came over in the Lyle Overbay trade before last season, finished with a 12-11 record and a respectable 4.41 ERA last season. He will rely on his four-seem fastball and solid curveball to hold the fort down as the fourth man in the Brewer rotation.

CLAUDIO VARGAS: Vargas, another right-hander, is new to the Brewers rotation as he came over in a trade from Arizona. He has struggled a bit in spring training, but he should prove to be an above-average fifth starter.

In 2006, he compiled a 12-10 record and a 4.76 ERA in a career high 31 starts.

THE NEXT GUYS IN LINE: In case of an injury, the Brewers have options.

CARLOS VILLANUEVA appeared to have made a solid claim for a starting spot at the end of last season by pitching well toward the end of the year. However, their off-season moves have the youngster in the bullpen.

YOVANI GALLARDO is a promising young prospect who could get a call-up. Newcomer ELMER DESSENS has experience as a starting pitcher as well, having made 145 career starts.

ZACH JACKSON will be back in the minors in 2007 after making seven starts last year.

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