McCutchen put on COVID-19 injured list
ATLANTA – The Milwaukee Brewers learned prior to Saturday’s game with the Atlanta Braves that they’re going to be without one of their key bats for the time being after Andrew McCutchen was placed on the COVID-19 injured list.
Utility man Mike Brosseau was recalled from Class AAA Nashville to take McCutchen’s spot on the 26-man roster.
McCutchen went 1 for 5 with a run scored in the Brewers’ 6-3 victory Friday night at Truist Park, then reported symptoms earlier Saturday.
“He came in, got tested here and just went back to the hotel,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s just going to stay at the hotel and as he feels better, we’ll figure out what to do.”
McCutchen entered Saturday tied for the team lead in hits with 24 in 25 games serving as Milwaukee’s primary designated hitter. He’s hitting .240 with two home runs and 14 runs batted in with an OPS of .641.
Brosseau, meanwhile, had been optioned out Sunday with teams needing to pare their roster sizes from 28 players down to 26.
He hit .250 with a homer and four RBI in 15 games for the Brewers.
McCutchen becomes the second Brewers player to land on the COVID-19 list this season, joining catcher Victor Caratini.
Possible bad news for Cousins
Right-hander Jake Cousins, on the IL since Sunday with what was diagnosed as an elbow effusion, is undergoing further examination after an MRI revealed the possibility of more serious damage.
“There’s concern about the UCL with Jake Cousins,” Counsell said. “We’re getting a second opinion right now and we should have more information on that early next week.”
Cousins made his first opening-day roster with the Brewers after a strong debut in 2021. In eight appearances this season, he’s 2-1 with a 4.50 earned run average, WHIP of 1.63 and 13 strikeouts in eight innings.
Milwaukee bolstered its bullpen in advance of its nine-game road trip Friday by selecting right-hander Luis Perdomo from Nashville.
The Brewers’ bullpen entered Saturday ranked fifth in the major leagues, second in the National League with a collective 2.89 ERA and tied for first with 13 saves (closer Josh Hader had 11 in 11 appearances, tying him for second in the majors and tying him for first in the NL).
Brewers, Piña meet back up
Former Milwaukee shortstop Orlando Arcia won a World Series ring with Atlanta after being traded by the Brewers to the Braves last April.
The latest ex-Brewer seeking some jewelry with the Braves is Manny Piña, who is currently on the IL with a wrist injury suffered in spring training.
Piña, who turns 35 on June 5, became a favorite of Brewers fans since debuting with the team back in 2016 and had become something of an institution as backup catcher before Atlanta swooped in and signed him to a two-year, $8 million contract last Nov. 15.
“Their offer was OK,” Piña said, referring to the Brewers. “This team offered more, and my agent wanted security. I love the Brewers, for sure, and I wanted to finish my career there with them.
“But that’s how it is. I’m here, working, playing the same baseball with the same attitude and trying to win games.”
Piña is hitting .143 with two RBI in five games with the Braves but it appears as though he’ll be out for a bit longer as he said he’s scheduled to undergo another MRI on his wrist.
The Brewers have had quite the time trying to replace Piña.
First, free-agent signee Pedro Severino was suspended 80 games for a positive PED test at the end of spring training. The Brewers traded for Caratini and another potential backup, Alex Jackson, the next day.
Then Caratini landed on the COVID-19 IL, leaving the Brewers to call up Jackson from Nashville before Caratini was reinstated.