Brewers-White Sox
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ily, call your agent. Luckily, my bags were already packed, just because I was preparing for it. It was definitely a situation where I had to control my emotions and not get too overwhelmed.”
Mathias, who turned 26 on Sunday, was staying ready at the Brewers' alternate training site in Appleton as part of the team's 60-man player pool, a necessity with no minor leagues in operation during the pandemic.
He had advanced as far as Class AAA Columbus last year in the Indians' organization and went to spring training with the intent of making Milwaukee's roster.
Then came the quick spread of COVID-19, which shut down camps and eventually delayed the season until the end of July.
With the Brewers keeping extra pitchers on their 30-man roster at the end of summer camp, Mathias was assigned to Camp Appleton.
“I didn't really know what to expect going into Appleton, but the front office and Jake McKinley are running things really well there,” Mathias said. “He has everything very organized. We actually played a nine-inning game two days before I got called up, so I was able to get probably 20-something at-bats (overall) and I got to play everywhere.
“I played short, third, first, left, right and second, so just trying to get acclimated to playing every position because I don't really know where I'm going to make my debut at this year positionwise. I've gotten a good preparation there to kind of feel comfortable.”
The Brewers absorbed a lot of bad news over the weekend as their threegame series against the COVID-ravaged St. Louis Cardinals was called off but manager Craig Counsell said a highlight was welcoming Mathias to the big leagues for the first time.
"With everything that's been going on, I thought it was great news (Monday)," Counsell said. "He'll make his debut soon and it was a bright spot in the day to welcome a guy for his first day in the big leagues."
Healy a man for all spots
Sooner or later, Ryon Healy figured, he'd be called up by the Brewers from their alternate training site in Appleton.
It happened on Monday, but even he couldn't have anticipated he'd find himself in the starting lineup, batting leadoff, of all things.
Which is to say, not a normal spot for a power-hitting, corner infield type.
“Man, I'm never surprised nowadays. You never know what's going to happen,” Healy said. “That was a little bit of a shock to me, but that was fun. It's something to keep you on your toes, something to keep you loose.”
The experience was short-lived, to say the least.
Healy, 26, getting the start at designated hitter, fouled out to first on Carlos Rodón's first pitch. He was pulled in favor of lefty-hitting Logan Morrison when Rodón left the game due to injury.
Still, it was a start and one that earned Healy something of a rare distinction – he now has started a game in all nine spots in the lineup in his fiveyear career in the major leagues.
Lindblom to start Thursday
Counsell said right-hander Josh Lindblom, who exited his first start in Pittsburgh early with back/rib cage cramping, will take his next turn as scheduled Thursday against the White Sox in Chicago.
"He's doing good," Counsell said. "It's a little bit of a mystery thing that's happened to him the last two times but there's no restrictions and he's ready to go."
Counsell is holding off announcing his starter for the series opener Friday against Cincinnati at Miller Park.
Veteran left-hander Brett Anderson, who pitched three innings Monday in his season debut, could come back on short rest but another option is lefty Eric Lauer, if he doesn't pitch beforehand out of the bullpen.
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Anderson took a grounder off the left foot on his very first pitch Monday but Counsell said, "He's doing fairly well. Nothing significant."
Rosters to stay at 28
The original plan for the delayed 2020 season was roster sizes of 30 players to begin, dropping to 28 after two weeks and then 26 after a month. Word spread Tuesday that rosters would drop to 28 on Thursday but remain there for the remainder of the season.