Garza placed on 15-day DL
Shoulder will get extended rest
Seeking to give him an extended period of rest with minimal disruption to the starting rotation, Matt Garza was placed on the 15day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis by the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.
The move, which is retroactive to July 3, should give Garza almost three weeks between starts with the upcoming break for the AllStar Game factored in.
“I’ve been pitching with it,” said Garza, who added he resisted an opportunity to skip a start earlier this season in an attempt to give his shoulder some additional rest.
“It’s more (the medical staff) wants me to get out of pain rather than grind through it. I only miss one (start), then we have the all-star break and then I believe I’ll be at the back end of the rotation after that. We’re still going to get my normal work in; it’s more of a controlled work now.
“It stinks, but I fought as long as I could, and they thought it was time to stop fighting for a minute and recover.”
Garza has struggled badly, posting a 4-10 record and 5.55 earned run average in 18 appearances (17 starts). He surrendered 10 hits, four runs (earned) and a walk to go along with three strikeouts in his last outing on July 2 in Philadelphia.
Since June 5, the date of his last victory, Garza has gone 0-3 with a 6.60 ERA over six total starts.
Garza spent most of last August on the DL with a strained left oblique, and he missed roughly six weeks the season before with the Chicago Cubs due to a left-side strain. Garza also has had several elbow issues over the course of his eight-year career in the major leagues, but said this is the first time he’s had shoulder trouble.
“More oblique — the last 2-3 years, that’s been about it,” he said. ‘(The medical staff) felt the workload I’ve been under, it’s kind of right where I’ve been (in terms of innings) but over the last two years I haven’t pitched a full season, so let’s nip it now.”
Starting in Garza’s place on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves will be rookie Tyler Cravy, who rejoined the Brewers along with David Goforth on July 3 in order to bolster an overworked bullpen.
Cravy pitched two scoreless innings of relief in Cincinnati that night. His last start came on June 29 for Class AAA Colorado Springs and he went 7 2⁄3 innings.
Overall, the right-hander was 7-5 with a 3.79 ERA in 14 starts (781⁄3 innings) for the Sky Sox. Cravy made his major-league debut with the Brewers on June 2 in St. Louis and took the loss despite allowing just four hits, one run and two walks over seven innings.
Cravy was then sent back to Colorado Springs after that game.
“I shouldn't be too nervous, having pitched here already and knowing what I need to do to do well,” Cravy said.
Manager Craig Counsell liked what he saw from Cravy in that game against the Cardinals.
“He pitched one of the better starts of the year really, the game he pitched in St. Louis, against the best team in the game,” Counsell said. “I feel good about putting him out there, for sure. He’s gone and done well in Colorado since that.
“He’s got a lot of composure. I don’t expect anything different this time around.”
Davis’ return nears: Counsell said that leftfielder Khris Davis would likely be reinstated from the 15-day DL and rejoin the Brewers on Tuesday.
Davis, who had knee surgery on June 1, was heading into his sixth rehab game with Class A Wisconsin. Through five games, he was 2 for 18 (.111) with two RBI, a run scored and two walks.
“He had a really good day Sunday,” Counsell said. “I talked to (Wisconsin manager) Matt Erickson today; he said Khris swung the bat really well.”
“Most likely, he’ll join us tomorrow.”