Outfield depth tested with Yelich, Cain out
CINCINNATI -- The Milwaukee Brewers were down not one but two of their starting outfielders -- and most consistent performers -- on Friday at Great American Ball Park with Christian Yelich sidelined by a tight lower back.
Yelich was pulled from Thursday's victory over the Cincinnati Reds after tweaking his back during an at-bat in the first inning. He joins Lorenzo Cain on the sideline, with Cain on the 10-day disabled list with a left-groin strain.
"Look, this is what teams deal with," manager Craig Counsell said. "Our (injuries) have been pretty spaced out, actually, where we’ve been able to cover it. We’ve played this week with multiple guys out, but that’s part of the baseball sea- son."
Yelich was described as "day-to-day" by Counsell.
"He’s getting treatment. He’s just kind of gotten out of alignment a little bit," Counsell said. "From the way he describes it, it’s something he’s felt before and when he gets lined back up he feels fine.
"We’ll just keep treating it, and you’re hoping that he comes back with big progress tomorrow or the next day."
Yelich said it was difficult to put a timetable on exactly when he might be ready to return.
“It’s a positive that it’s not worse. That’s a positive sign,” he said. “I’m hoping to iron it out soon, but it’s kind of like a, ‘It’s better when it’s better’ kind of thing.
"There’s never really a timetable for it. When it clears up and you’re ready to go, then you’re ready to go.”
With the Brewers' top two center-field options out, Keon Broxton got his second start since being recalled from Class AAA Colorado Springs on Tuesday.
Broxton replaced Yelich in Thursday's game and reached on an infield hit and scored, then in the ninth made a terrific running catch in right-center to help secure the victory.
The consistent offense that both Yelich and Cain provide in center will be difficult to replace in the short term. Broxton has been notoriously streaky during his numerous stints with the Brewers, and strikes out at a high rate.
But he also has tremendous athletic gifts, and put together just the 13th 20homer, 20-stolen base season in franchise history a year ago as the primary centerfielder.
"Look, it’s simple with Keon – contact’s the issue," said Counsell. "That’s the issue, and it’s something at times he’s struggled with and he’s gotten over the hump with. It’s the thing that’s important for him because when he squares balls up he hits them really hard and he hits them far.”
On the radar: While he might not be a household name among those who follow minor-league prospects, left-handed reliever Quintin Torres-Costa has certainly caught the eye of the Brewers' brass with his performance in the minor leagues this season.
A 35th-round draft pick of the Brewers out of the University of Hawaii in 2015, Torres-Costa was promoted to Class AAA Colorado Springs on Friday after posting a 1.16 earned run average, WHIP of 0.97 and a pair of saves in 21 appearances at Class AA Biloxi.
He also struck out 44 batters in 31 innings of work and limited batters to a .160 average.
"If you’re in Double-A and performing, you’re on the radar," Counsell said. "Q’s had a really nice season. He’s left-handed, he’s got a little different arm slot. It’s easy to be interested in that.”
Counsell got a brief look at Torres-Costa in the spring, as he pitched 2 13 ⁄ innings over four appearances in Cactus League play. He opened last season at advanced Class A Carolina.
He throws a low-90s fastball with a big, sweeping curveball.