Brewers hope Braun provides boost
There have been many times throughout his career when Ryan Braun was the driving force for the Milwaukee Brewers’ offense.
It remains to be seen how much of a toll age and injuries have taken on Braun, but a struggling offense was in need of a boost as he came off the disabled list Saturday night before the Brewers’ game against Los Angeles at Miller Park. To make room for Braun on the roster, catcher Jacob Nottingham was optioned to Class AAA Colorado Springs.
“He’s important for us,” said manager Craig Counsell, whose slumping club was looking to shake free of a sevengame losing streak. “He’s an important option and I’d like to get him in there on a semi-regular basis, for sure.”
Braun’s availability and production were limited in the first half, in large part to ongoing back issues. He had two stints on the DL and played in only 71 of the team’s 98 games before the all-star break.
When Braun did play, he had trouble making contributions consistently. He batted .235 with 10 home runs, 35 RBI, a .283 on-base percentage and .710 OPS. Braun hit in tough luck at times but the fact remains that his production was far below career norms.
“He didn’t have a great first half and I think he’d tell you that,” said Counsell, who put Braun in the cleanup spot because of success (.303, one homer) against Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw. “I think his expected (numbers) based on how he hit the ball was better than his surface line shows.
“I expect him to be better this half just because I think his luck will even out, first of all, but I think he’ll play better.”
The Brewers averaged only 3.3 runs per game during the losing streak, and injuries were a factor in the lineups. First baseman Eric Thames is out with a hamstring strain and second baseman Jonathan Villar is sidelined with a thumb injury. Catcher Manny Piña returned from a biceps strain on Friday.
“As we go through this home stand, we expect to get healthier,” Counsell said. “Our health is important going forward, and as each day goes by, we feel like we’re making progress.”
Thames is eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday.
Change of plans: Reliever Matt Albers was scheduled to make a second
minor-league rehab appearance Saturday night with Class A Wisconsin, but with rain in the forecast he stayed with the Brewers and threw a simulated game at Miller Park.
“Matt was good,” Counsell said. “We changed plans to, No. 1, make sure he pitched, and No. 2, we were able to control the number of pitches her. It served a good purpose and everything went well. He did great.”
Albers, who went on the DL with shoulder inflammation on June 12, will next pitch for Colorado Springs and probably make two appearances there before being activated. He said he no longer experiences discomfort.
“It’s been feeling pretty good,” he said. “I’m ready to get back. It’s not been fun watching. We sort of expected this would take a little time. We just want to make sure it doesn’t cause me any problems going forward.”
Starting pitcher Zach Davies, on the comeback trail from shoulder and back issues, will pitch a simulated game Monday as the next step in his rehab. If that goes well, he will pitch Thursday for the Timber Rattlers in Peoria, Ill.
“My shoulder feels ready,” Davies said. “It’s been my back that we’re trying to get past.”
All for one: Counsell said he was not surprised that the entire team showed up to support Josh Hader on Friday afternoon as he answered questions about the repugnant tweets from seven years earlier that understandably created a firestorm around the team.
“It’s not about the situation to me; it’s about who they are as a team,” Counsell said. “To me, it’s a sign of connection and a sign of family. That was something they completely did on their own. You kind of expect it because that’s how they treat each other.”