Suter to make spot start
Spot starts are fast becoming Brent Suter‘s specialty.
The left-hander becomes the first of multiple fill-ins for the injured Chase Anderson when he takes the ball Monday against the Baltimore Orioles at Miller Park.
Manager Craig Counsell announced the move following Sunday’s 10-3 loss to the Miami Marlins at Miller Park.
Reliever Paolo Espino was also optioned back to Class AAA Colorado Springs after allowing four hits and four earned runs in two innings of mop-up work. The Brewers will announce a corresponding roster move — likely adding another pitcher — on Monday.
All the juggling has been necessitated by Anderson’s strained left oblique, which he suffered on a second-inning swing in Cincinnati last week. The right-hander, who had been the team’s best starter, is expected to miss a minimum of six weeks while he recovers.
“This is about getting 27 outs for one game. It’s how to put that together. That’s how we’re going to look at it tomorrow,” Counsell said before the game.
“In Chase’s spot we’re going to go start by start. Whoever’s starting tomorrow is starting tomorrow, and that’s what we’ll commit to. There will be options moving forward with other pitchers, off-days.”
In his fifth tour of duty with the Brewers already this season, Suter is 0-1 with a 4.20 earned-run average in eight appearances.
His first spot start came on June 13 in St. Louis, when he learned just 35 minutes before the first game of a doubleheader that he’d be pitching after rookie Brandon Woodruff’s major-league debut was scrubbed when he strained his right hamstring in pre-game warmups.
In 4 innings, Suter allowed five hits, three runs and a walk with two strikeouts — a solid effort considering he had next to no time to prepare.
“This will be my first Miller Park start, so that’ll be pretty cool,” said Suter. “I’m looking forward to it, so hopefully I can pick up the team after today’s loss.
“I was telling Chase he’ll be starting tomorrow in spirit and I’ll try to carry his energy out there because he’s been doing great. It’s a big hole that he’s left, and hopefully I can help fill it for a little bit.”
Suter said he was informed he might be needed to start on Saturday, and believes he can improve upon his showing in St. Louis.
“Arm feels fresh and good,” said Suter, who made two starts among 14 appearances for the Brewers in 2016.
Not right now: Counsell said that one internal option that appeared to make sense on the surface — Josh Hader — isn’t being considered to make starts in Anderson’s stead.
Considered the organization’s top pitching prospect, Hader went 3-4 with a 5.37 ERA in 12 starts at Colorado Springs before being recalled on June 9 and moved into the bullpen.
The left-hander has yet to allow a run, but the Brewers have pitched him just 9 innings over seven appearances.
“What we’re doing with Josh is we’re making progress getting him into a relief role,” Counsell said. “You’ve seen how we’ve used him. We’ve been very cautious with how we’ve used him, and I think we’re getting through that phase now.”
Another prospect who could get a chance to make some starts down the road is the right-hander Woodruff, who’s been on the DL since June 13 and currently rehabbing at the team’s Maryvale complex to rehab.