The top five starters for the Brewers worked in 157 games last year and look for more of the same from this very impressive bunch. Here is a look at the Brewers’ starting rotation for 2012 as of right now:

#1: Yovani Gallardo: 25-year old righty Yovani Gallardo has really turned into a good starting pitcher for the Brewers, and he was home grown. Gallardo pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 17-10 with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He has now pitched in 118 games (115 starts) in his first five years with the Brewers and he is 53-34 with a 3.63 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. I look for Gallardo to be the Brewers’ ace once again in 2012 as he seems to be getting better.

#2: Zack Greinke: 28-year old righty Zack Greinke got off to a late start in 2011 due to injury, but he pitched really well for the Brewers. Greinke pitched in 28 games (all starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 16-6 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He has now pitched in 238 games (197 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 76-73 with 1 save, a 3.82 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. I look for Greinke to make a legit run for the Cy Young Award in 2012.

#3: Randy Wolf: 35-year old lefty Randy Wolf turned in another very solid year in 2011. He pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 13-10 with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Wolf has now pitched in 67 games (all starts) in his first two years with the Brewers and he is 26-22 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has now pitched in 346 games (342 starts) in his first 13 years in the majors and he is 127-107 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. I look for Wolf to pitch well again in 2012 for the Brewers as he is a very consistent starting pitcher.

#4: Shaun Marcum: 30-year old righty Shaun Marcum pitched really well in his first season with the Brewers in 2011. He pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 13-7 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Marcum has now pitched in 153 games (128 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 50-32 with 1 save, a 3.77 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Marcum is a very underrated starting pitcher and I look for him to have another big year in 2012.

#5: Chris Narveson: 30-year old lefty starting pitcher Chris Narveson really stepped up for the Brewers last year. He pitched in 30 games (28 starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 11-8 with a 4.45 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Narveson has now pitched in 88 games (60 starts) in his first three years with the Brewers and he is 25-17 with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He has now worked in 93 games (61 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 25-17 with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: A+