PITCHING CHANGE
Gonzalez will replace struggling Guerra in Milwaukee’s rotation
After spending his initial few days with the Milwaukee Brewers in something of a holding pattern, Gio Gonzalez now has his marching orders.
Manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that the left-hander will replace the struggling Junior Guerra in the rotation, with his first start coming Saturday against the San Francisco Giants at Miller Park.
"We acquired him to have another good pitcher and because you don't know what's going to happen in this month," Counsell said. "It's his turn to go help us try to win a game."
Starting meaningful games in September is nothing new for Gonzalez, an 11-year veteran who was a member of a tremendously talented rotation in Washington before last Friday's trade that brought him to Milwaukee.
But he found himself in unfamiliar territory Monday, an inning away from pitching out of the Brewers' bullpen before Christian Yelich delivered a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs with his
ninth-inning fielder's choice.
"I talked to (Xavier) Cedeño and I told him I was throwing it as hard as I can every pitch and then he comes up to me after the game and goes, ‘I get nice and loose, and then I start putting a little something on it.’ And I go, ‘Thanks for telling me afterwards. I just threw seven innings as hard as I can to get maybe three outs,' ” Gonzalez said with a laugh.
It would have been his first relief appearance since 2009, his second year in the major leagues with the Oakland A's.
"Those are the little tricks of the game that you learn once you start going along and making those changes in your career and in your position," Gonzalez said. "Every day there’s something you can learn and get better at."
It was a difficult final season for Gonzalez with the Nationals, as he went 7-11 with a 4.57 earned run average and WHIP of 1.53 in 27 starts (1452⁄3 innings). He's throwing his fastball a career-low 56% of the time according to FanGraphs and his changeup a career-high 22.6%, although the average velocity on his fastball is up a tick at 90.7 mph.
He'll have gone 10 days between starts once he takes the mound at Miller Park – an eternity for a starter – even though he'll have a few bullpen sessions with pitching coach Derek Johnson under his belt.
"I don’t want to use any excuses," Gonzalez said. "The way I see it is just give me the ball and I’m going to try and give you 100% of my talent. I’ll take the ball, make my pitches and try to get some outs. Rely on my defense and rely on our offense.
"Hopefully I can keep us in the game."
Guerra, meanwhile, heads to the bullpen after going 6-9 with a 4.27 ERA in 26 starts (135 innings). He was one of the Brewers' most consistent starters until a blowup outing just before the all-star break in Pittsburgh, then went 0-2 with a 9.31 ERA in his final five starts.
The way things line up now, it will be Chase Anderson, Gonzalez and Zach Davies against the Giants over the weekend. But that could be subject to change with another series against the Cubs coming up next MondayWednesday at Wrigley Field and an off-day on Thursday.
"We have flexibility with the day off," Counsell said. "We could change things but I don't anticipate it. With all these days off, we're going to be flexible."
Eye of the beholder: After pitching in his first game for the Cubs against the Brewers on Monday, veteran lefthander Cole Hamels caused a stir in Brewerland by proclaiming that it couldn’t be classified a rivalry because there were so many Chicago fans in the stands.
“When you have a majority of Cubs fans in the stands, I don’t know if that’s a rivalry yet,” said Hamels, who could have waited until playing more than one game in Milwaukee.
“I’ve been in rivalries. They’re not going to like me for the comment but you can look at ticket sales.”
Hamels was correct about one thing he said – the “they’re not going to like me” part. But Counsell refused to be dragged into that silliness.
“I really look at it like we're spending way too much time trying to classify rivalries,” Counsell said. “Enjoy the baseball games, man. Home, road, I'm happy to be in the building.
“If you're not enjoying that game (Monday) – sorry, Cubs fans, I know it didn't turn out like you wanted – but that's a great baseball game. That moment with (Anthony) Rizzo – I can be a fan for a minute – that's a great moment.
“I remember being in New York (playing for Arizona in the 2001 World Series) when Tino Martinez hit a home run off Byung Hyun Kim, and standing at second base. For a second you think, 'That's an incredible moment. I'm happy to be in the building.'
“Josh Hader hadn't given up a homer to a left-hander in his big-league career. Give Rizzo credit. He did a great thing. The building went crazy. It's a huge moment. That's why we're all here. We love the sport. So, put me in the building and let me enjoy the game.”