Brewers hope to get Nelson back on mound this fall
When asked about the significance of the date, Milwaukee Brewers general manager David Stearns knew immediately what question was coming next Saturday.
“I was thinking about that last night, realizing what today’s date (Sept. 8) was going to be,” Stearns said with a knowing look.
It was on that date last season that right-hander Jimmy Nelson suffered a devastating shoulder injury diving back into first base after a base hit against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Nelson was done for the rest of the season – and as it turned out, for all of 2018 – and the injury was a major factor in the Brewers finishing one game out of the NL wildcard picture.
“On the one hand, it evokes some tough memories, both for the organization and Jimmy,” Stearns said. “On the other hand, I’m really proud of how the organization responded. And I’m proud of how Jimmy has responded. Jimmy is nearing a really positive phase of his rehab here.”
Beyond Nelson’s season-long absence, the Brewers lost Brent Suter to Tommy John surgery in late July, and Wade Miley missed three months with groin and oblique injuries. Yet, the Brewers remain firmly in playoff contention, leading the wild-card race.
“We’ve had guys step up this year, across the entire team and certainly in the starting rotation,” Stearns said. “That has helped us overcome what was a tough blow.”
Though Nelson ran out of time to pitch in the majors this year while recovering from the severe injury, the Brewers don’t want it to end like this for him. The plan is for Nelson to go soon to the organization’s Maryvale training facility in Phoenix to face hitters in simulated action before taking the mound in an instructional league game.
How many games will Nelson pitch in instructional league?
“Probably just one,” Stearns said. “The idea is let’s bring this to its rightful conclusion for this year. Have everyone feel good about where we are, and allow Jimmy to have a normal offseason. Then get going next spring.”
With only that information to go on entering next spring, Stearns acknowledged it would be difficult to say unequivocally that Nelson would be in the season-opening rotation.
“With any injury of this magnitude, you have to take a cautious approach,” he said. “We will still be able to gather information as he goes through this next phase, as he goes through his offseason workouts and begins to ramp up to spring training.
“We also understand how unpredictable these can be. We’re going to continue to have contingency plans. We’re going to continue to listen to Jimmy to make sure we’re doing this right for his body.”
Lean to the left: It was almost strange Saturday night that the Brewers faced a right-handed starting pitcher in San Francisco’s Chris Stratton. They had faced four consecutive lefties – Chicago’s Cole Hamels, Mike Montgomery and José Quintana, and the Giants’ Derek Holland – and will face three more in succession beginning Sunday – San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner, then Jon Lester and Quintana in the first two games of a three-game set in Chicago.
“We’ve been in kind of a unique stretch of the season,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s just a little different. It’s kind of been all or nothing with right-handers or left-handers the last six weeks.
Facing lefties makes it difficult for Counsell to use his preferred offensive lineup that includes left-handed hitters Mike Moustakas at third base and Travis Shaw at second base. Moustakas is batting .200 against lefties since joining the Brewers and Shaw is batting .217 against them, so Counsell usually plays only one of that duo.
Facing lefties also puts Eric Thames (.192 against them) on the bench and means newcomer Curtis Granderson (.143) won’t be in the starting lineup. Christian Yelich is the one left-handed hitter who fares well against lefties (.329) and therefore gets to play.
“We knew this was going to happen,” Counsell said. “We’re kind of splitting some playing time with Travis and the other left-handers. We kind of thought this would happen. There’s some sacrifices in playing time when you get a stretch like this. ‘Moose’ has still played in most of the games since he got here.
“We’re making some different choices defensively, and with matchups every day. I think we’re putting out a really nice lineup every day. I like the way our lineup looks. It’s just that some guys that are used to being in there every day are getting a day or two off every week now.”