Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta has earned a spot in the starting rotation after pitching primarily in relief last year.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Peralta will get a starting assignment and that Josh Lindblom will work out of the bullpen to begin the season.

Counsell cited Peralta’s performance in an exhibition game Sunday against the Seattle Mariners as an example of the 24-year-old’s progress. Peralta struck out five and gave up one run in 4 2/3 innings that day. That’s the only run he’s allowed over 8 1/3 preseason innings.

“The rhythm of the game, the pitches he used, the weapons he had for different hitters, different handed-ness of hitters — just really a complete step up from a couple years ago, when he had to rely on the fastball, essentially,” Counsell said.

Peralta went 3-1 with a 3.99 ERA in 15 appearances but made just one start last year. Lindblom, a 33-year-old right-hander, was 2-4 with a 5.16 ERA and started in 10 of his 12 outings.

The rest of the rotation figures to include right-handers Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes and Adrian Houser plus left-hander Brett Anderson. Woodruff will pitch the season opener April 1 against Minnesota and Burnes will work the second game on April 3.

Counsell said he doesn’t expect Lindblom to spend the entire season working in relief.