Flurry of moves includes putting Braun on the DL
The Milwaukee Brewers had perhaps their busiest day ever on the personnel front Sunday, making eight player moves before their series finale against Atlanta at Miller Park.
Here are the moves:
* Leftfielder Ryan Braun to the 10-day disabled list with mid-back tightness.
* Catcher Manny Piña to the 10-day DL with left biceps strain.
* Centerfielder Lorenzo Cain (groin strain) activated from the 10-day DL.
* Right-handed pitcher Aaron Wilkerson optioned to Class AAA Colorado Springs.
* Left-handed pitcher Mike Zagurski designated for assignment.
* Catcher Jacob Nottingham recalled from Colorado Springs.
* Infielder Nate Orf recalled from Colorado Springs.
* Right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes recalled from Colorado Springs.
“Today, was a combination of a lot of circumstances,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Today’s moves were necessary. They just all came in one day.”
The Braun move was not surprising because his back has been bothering him, off and on, all season, and he already spent one stint on the DL because of it. But it was news that Piña suffered a left biceps strain swinging the bat Friday night in the game against Atlanta, an injury severe enough that he wasn’t expected to play for several days.
Of the injury to Piña, Counsell said, “We had some tests there and there’s an injury there where he’s unable to swing the bat for about a week. It’s close enough with the all-star break (coming) that we felt like just get him good for the second half. We’re confident he’ll be ready after the all-star break.
“It’s not a bad injury but it’s enough that DL time is required, especially with a catcher.”
Braun was scratched from the starting lineup Saturday but did appear as a pinch-hitter in the ninth, striking out to end the game. His availability has been day-to-day for many periods of the season because of the back situation, and his effectiveness has been compromised to a great extent – .235 batting average, .283 OBP, .710 OPS, 10 home runs, 35 RBI, 55 strikeouts in 255 plate appearances.
“He’s been in this phase of some trouble with his back and right side,” Counsell said. “We’re trying to get ahead of it as we go into the all-star break. We think two weeks kind of resets him.”
The Brewers had been waiting for a couple of weeks for Cain to return to action, and he was placed in the starting lineup for the game against the Braves. He was batting .291 with a .832 OPS in 72 games.
“He’s been a really good player this season and we’re happy to get him back,” Counsell said. “He’s fired up and ready to go.”
Orf had been optioned Saturday to make room to add Wilkerson, who started that game against the Braves and went five innings. But Orf was eligible to be recalled because of the Braun injury, and the Brewers decided to send out Wilkerson to bring up a fresh arm in Burnes.
“Aaron did a nice job yesterday (four hits, two runs) for us,” Counsell said. “But, as we’re kind of actively managing this, it was a chance to get another position player for a period, going into the Pittsburgh series (later in the week).”
In anticipation of using Burnes out of the bullpen this season if needed, the Brewers moved him from a starting role to relief duty at Colorado Springs. They liked what they saw enough to give him this shot in the majors, a meteoric rise for a player taken in the fourth round of the 2016 draft.
Burnes wasn’t particularly effective in six relief outings for the Sky Sox, allowing 12 hits and seven runs in 92⁄3 innings (6.52 ERA) but the Brewers want to give him a chance in the big leagues to see how he responds.
“They’ve shortened his down time between appearances,” Counsell said. “He’s had some good appearances; he has struggled a little bit (in others). We think he’s ready to handle this and we look forward to seeing him pitch. He has recovered well between outings.”
General manager David Stearns acknowledged Burnes was on the fast track to the majors but added, “We believe Corbin can help us win games here. He’s part of this mix of pitchers who have come up from Triple-A who have come up and helped us. He’s earned the right to be here. It’s his time.”
The Brewers will need a fifth starter again Thursday in Pittsburgh, and also have a makeup doubleheader Saturday against the Pirates. Left-hander Wade Miley is eligible to come off the 60-day DL on Monday and therefore will be in play for one of those assignments.
Miley started Saturday for Class AA Biloxi on his latest rehab assignment and was very sharp, pitching four hitless innings with no walks and four strikeouts.
Zagurski was given two tough assignments against Cincinnati and Atlanta, facing some of the league’s best lefthanded hitters, and was not up for the challenge. In one inning, he allowed five hits, two walks and seven runs, resulting in a 63.00 ERA and the decision to designate him for assignment.
Counsell said the hope is that Zagurski would clear waivers and remain in the organization.