Brewers’ Houser hopes outbreak ends with him
ST. LOUIS – Adrian Houser hopes the Brewers’ COVID-19 chain was broken with him, at least for the remainder of the 2021 season.
The Milwaukee Brewers’ right-hander rejoined the team here Monday and threw a bullpen session after finishing his 10-day quarantine back home for testing positive for the coronavirus. Houser was the ninth player over a 12-day period to be isolated but there has been no 10th player to this point.
“That’s what I’m hoping; I want to be the last guy,” said Houser, who has not been activated onto the big-league
yet. “Getting it out of the clubhouse would be good. It happened real fast. Hopefully, it’s done now.”
Houser (7-5, 3.55 ERA in 21 games) had become a consistent member of the starting rotation before going on the COVID-19 IL. He said he did the best he could to keep his arm in shape during his time in isolation while also waiting through a blackout that many experienced after the bad storm last Tuesday.
“I was in Milwaukee at my rent house,” Houser said. “The storm that canceled the game in Chicago knocked out power, so I was without power for two days. Luckily, I have a basement so we were able to go down there and cool off, use that as the AC.
“I picked up a net from Josh Hader and threw into a net for a few days. Then I went to Craig Counsell Field (in Whitefish Bay) and threw on the side mound out there. Just threw into the net, hopped back in my truck and drove back home. That’s pretty much the extent of it. It was nice to be able to use that (field). It was a nice area and a short drive from the house.”
While many of the infected Brewers had mild or no symptoms, Houser had a couple of rough days at the outset.
“The first couple of days it had me down,” he said. “Just a little tired, had a little fever, some pressure in my head, kind of like a sinus infection. That’s what it felt like. Day 3, I lost taste and smell. While I was losing that all the other symptoms were going away, so I was starting to get energy back.”
Houser threw an extended bullpen session at Busch Stadium during the Brewers’ off day Monday and said he’ll be ready to return to action when needed.
“I’m waiting to see when they want to throw me back in there, maybe this weekend,” he said. “I feel ready to get back in there and help the boys again.”
The only other player still on the COVID list is reliever Jandel Gustave, who has been with the club for four days, getting in throwing sessions after spending two weeks in isolation in a hotel in Atlanta.
“I think we’ll get through this series and the hope is maybe after we get back home that he’ll be ready to go out (and pitch),” manager Craig Counsell said. “I think he’ll throw a bullpen before we leave St. Louis.
“We’re getting there. I told you it was going to be a little longer with him because he was basically shut down from throwing for 12 days while being down with COVID. So there is going to be a little more of a build-up process with him.”
First baseman Keston Hiura, who also spent time on the COVID-19 list after being optioned to Class AAA Nashville, was activated from that list and returned to the Sounds’ roster. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, the Brewers designated left-hander Kyle Lobstein for assignment. He had been pitching at Nashville.
The Brewers also signed outfielder David Dahl, who had been released by Texas, and assigned him to Nashville. Infielder Kevin Kramer was released from that club.
Vogelbach out with foot injury
First baseman Daniel Vogelbach was nearing the end of a rehab assignment with Nashville after recovering from a significant hamstring injury when he incurred a foot issue that prompted the club to return him to inactivity on the injured list. When he is ready to play again, the Brewers can start the clock again on a new 20-day rehab assignment.
Either way, there’s no apparent spot for Vogelbach at present on the Brewers’ roster with Rowdy Tellez – acquired from Toronto after the hamstring injury – swinging a hot bat at first base.
“He’s missed the last couple of games with a foot injury, so we’re kind of going through that right now,” Counsell said. “We’ll get through that and see where we’re at. Right now, he’s unable to play.”
Another rehabbing player who got aced out by new acquisitions, third baseman Travis Shaw, was placed on waivers and claimed Sunday by Boston.
“We got into a roster situation with the acquisitions that we just don’t have any room right now,” Counsell said. “We figured Travis would have interest elsewhere, and he did.”
Wong not surprised by Cards
Second baseman Kolten Wong, who played for St. Louis for seven years beroster fore signing a two-year, free-agent deal with the Brewers, was not surprised the Cardinals moved into a contending position in the NL playoff race after spinning their wheels for much of the season.
The third-place Cardinals, winners of six in a row and eight of nine, were 10 games behind the Brewers at the start of the series but only four games behind faltering San Diego for the second wildcard spot. Now, they get their chance at Milwaukee with 13 games between now and season’s end.
“That’s what you want,” Wong said. “You want to build up for the playoff run. You want to play the best teams, the important games. It’s going to be fun for us. We’re excited to compete against them. Every series with these guys is going to be big for us. We have to be ready to go.
“For seven years, no matter how far we were out, I knew there was an opportunity to come back. The way they’re playing right now, it’s a scary situation because you know how good they can be. One thing I learned playing there is they are never out of it.
“But we’re confident in who we are. We know how good our team is with this pitching staff. We’re ready to compete and put our stamp on things.”
The Brewers have the best road record in the majors at 40-20 entering the series but Wong wasn’t sure why the club has fared so well away from American Family Field.
“I don’t know,” he said. “When we play Chicago in Milwaukee, it seems like a road game anyway (because of the large contingent of Cubs fans). We’re getting a good amount of road games in. This team just loves to play; we love to compete and prove we’re one of the best out there.”