Nelson won his first start of the season Saturday against the Pirates. Nelson pitched seven scoreless innings while striking out nine batters. He had a rough spring training by giving up 26 hits with a 6.23 ERA, but pitched a strong outing to start the season.

Nelson is lined up to make his season debut Saturday against the Pirates at Miller Park. Nelson had a rough spring, giving up 26 hits and 12 earned runs in 17.1 innings (6.23 ERA), but that did not prevent him from opening the season in the starting rotation for the first time. The Brewers are thin in the starting pitching ranks, so Nelson should have a bit of a leash even if his struggles continue early in the regular season. However, he certainly won't help fantasy owners much unless he gets things turned around.

Nelson (hamstring) made his spring debut Monday and tossed two scoreless innings. Nelson was slowed by a sore hamstring early in camp, but with him able to see game action, it appears he has put the injury behind him. Nelson, who made 12 starts for the Brewers a year ago, will open the season as the team's fifth starter as long as he stays healthy.

Nelson (hamstring) completed a live batting practice session Friday and has been cleared to pitch in Cactus League games, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Nelson has been limited a bit over the past week by a sore hamstring, but reportedly impressed during Friday's live session and is hoping to make his Cactus League debut Monday or Tuesday. It's worth noting that Nelson has been throwing a curveball this spring, adding to a repertoire which also includes a fastball, a sinker and a changeup. Manager Ron Roenicke said he's "liking what [he's] seeing" with the curveball, but Nelson will continue to rely primarily on the fastball and sinker.

Nelson threw his first bullpen session Sunday since the onset of hamstring tightness, and did not seem to have any issues, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Nelson began experiencing some muscle tightness earlier in the week, but the ailment was believed to be minor all along. If he can get through another bullpen session free of setbacks, look for Nelson to take the hill for a spring game in the near future. The right-hander will look to lock down a back-end rotation job during spring training.

Nelson was unable to throw Thursday or Friday due to a sore hamstring, MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports. Manager Ron Roenicke does not believe Nelson's setback is serious, so it seems the Brewers are just being cautious with the regular season over a month away. Assuming Nelson is healthy come Opening Day, he will open the season as the Brewers' fifth starter.

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said that Nelson will likely begin the season in the bullpen if the team's current six starters are on the roster and healthy at the end of spring training. "For right now, I think that's not a bad way to help him develop," Roenicke said. Roenicke made a point to say that the team views Nelson as a starter for the long haul, and of course, health is not a given for the starters currently ahead of him on the depth chart. The Brewers are in need of bullpen help, and outside of adding a left-hander to replace the departed Zach Duke, internal candidates are likely to be utilized to replace Francisco Rodriguez. Moreover, the Brewers may not have Jim Henderson or Tyler Thornburg in the mix to begin the season as both pitchers are recovering from arm injuries. Nelson figures to report to spring training and stretch out as a starter, so a final decision regarding his role to begin the year may not come until the end of spring training.

Nelson gave up five runs on six hits over 4.1 innings in a loss to the Cubs on Friday night. Making a spot start in place of Matt Garza (shoulder), Nelson scuffled in what will be his final appearance of 2014. Having dominated the Triple-A level for a half-season after holding his own there in 2013, Nelson's role for next season is up in the air, but it may hinge on the moves made by the Brewers' front office after a disappointing six-week stretch dropped the club from a perch atop the NL Central held for most of the season, to October days spent on the golf course and nights watching the playoffs from home.

Nelson will start Friday's game against the Cubs in place of Matt Garza, who is dealing with shoulder stiffness, Andrew Gruman of Fox Sports Wisconsin reports. Nelson has worked sparingly out of the bullpen lately, having made his last start back on Sept. 7. The 25-year-old will have one final opportunity to break his streak of eight straight appearances (six starts) without a win.

Nelson has been moved to the bullpen, Andrew Gruman of FOX Sports Wisconsin reports. The Brewers opted to keep Nelson in the rotation initially upon Matt Garza's return from the DL, but they finally made the move Tuesday, assigning Nelson to the bullpen. He'll remain there for the rest of the season, barring injury to one of the team's starters, but Nelson should be a rotation candidate coming out of spring training.