Zerpa to IL ……Fitzpatrick recalled

[markedman5]

 

[wiguy94]

Really cool to see Fitzpatrick make his way to the big leagues. Hope he kills it.

[markedman5]

Also Matos cleared waivers and outrighted to Nashville 

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/04/brewers-select-brian-fitzpatrick-outright-luis-matos.html

[titanrick]

When I asked AI what "Matos" meant in Spanish, one of the options it gave me was "scrub".

I wish I were joking.

[folly412]

Fitzpatrick deserves the call-up, hope he does well in the big leagues.

Left forearm tightness doesn't sound like a Phantom IL thing for Zerpa.  Hope it's rest-solved and not a major thing (UCL problem).

[Steve Drumwright]

 

The Milwaukee Brewers are losing a key member of their bullpen.

Left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with left forearm tightness. Left-handed reliever Brian Fitzpatrick had his contract selected from Triple-A Nashville and will be making his MLB debut. The Brewers had an open spot following outfielder Luis Matos being designated for assignment.

 

 

 

 

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Following a strong performance for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, Zerpa emerged as another late-inning weapon out of the Brewers' bullpen. He started the season with four scoreless outings, but has allowed runs in six of his last eight appearances for a 6.39 ERA in 12 games. In his most recent outing, Saturday vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates, he allowed three runs (one earned) on one hit and a walk with a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. It was the third consecutive outing Zerpa allowed a run.

Fitzpatrick was a 10th-round selection by the Brewers in the 2022 draft out of Rutgers. In 10 appearances at Nashville this year, Fitzpatrick has not allowed a run in 10⅓ innings, with two walks and 11 strikeouts. In his five minor-league seasons, Fitzpatrick has appeared in 81 games, including 15 starts, and posted a 3.49 ERA with 3.6 walks and 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Brewers also formally sent outfielder Jackson Chourio and first baseman Andrew Vaughn to Nashville to begin their rehab assignments. Also, Matos went unclaimed on waivers and was outrighted to Nashville.

 

View full rumor

[liveforoctober]

Brewers' 10th rd pick in '22 out of Rutgers. Big Ten product! 

The Brewers have grown and are grooming some decent bullpen arms in Nashville right now. Childers is also putting himself into the call up conversation. The wheels keep turning..

Hoping for the best for Fitz!

[markedman5]

Certainly explains Zerpa’s rough outings after looking so good in the WBC

[Jim French Stepstool]

Interesting that they want to maintain 4 LHP in the BP. But I'm not disparaging the move in any way; Fitzpatrick certainly deserves it.

Agree with the above comments re Zerpa. Considering how he looked in the WBC & his first few outings of the season it appears to be nothing at all like a phantom injury.

[markedman5]

 

[markedman5]

“interesting that they want to maintain 4 LHP in the BP.”

Not as interesting as the DBacks having zero! lol 

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, markedman5 said:

“interesting that they want to maintain 4 LHP in the BP.”

Not as interesting as the DBacks having zero! lol 

True😁.

And with them playing us right now, likey.

[Jopal78]

1 hour ago, markedman5 said:

 

While low stakes a bust of a trade and it’s not even May 1st yet. 2nd opinion almost always means the ligament is damaged and it’s a question of rehab or TJ. 
 

If he needs TJ surgery it means he’s almost certainly getting non-tendered after the season. 

[yourout]

Wonder if the injury rate for the WBC participants is higher.

[StearnsFTW]

15 hours ago, Jopal78 said:

While low stakes a bust of a trade and it’s not even May 1st yet. 2nd opinion almost always means the ligament is damaged and it’s a question of rehab or TJ. 
 

If he needs TJ surgery it means he’s almost certainly getting non-tendered after the season. 

Is it a bust when they gave up nothing?

I guess.  Bad luck mostly.

[Outlander]

Sure seems like they sold at the correct time with Collins, just didn't get the right guy back in return. Although with all of these injuries to the outfield Collins would be an upgrade.

[Brian]

18 hours ago, titanrick said:

When I asked AI what "Matos" meant in Spanish, one of the options it gave me was "scrub".

I wish I were joking.

Wonder what Greg Jones means in Spanish? 

[Thurston Fluff]

51 minutes ago, Brian said:

Wonder what Greg Jones means in Spanish? 

DFA?

[Jopal78]

6 hours ago, StearnsFTW said:

Is it a bust when they gave up nothing?

I guess.  Bad luck mostly.

I’d rather have Mears than Zerpa straight up. I’d take Collins even with a bad start over Greg Jones too. 
 

Even at a more base level, Zerpa goes down and somebody has to pick up the 50 or so innings he was likely to pitch the rest of the way weakening the depth. 
 

So yeah, a bust. 

[StearnsFTW]

17 hours ago, Jopal78 said:

I’d rather have Mears than Zerpa straight up. I’d take Collins even with a bad start over Greg Jones too. 
 

Even at a more base level, Zerpa goes down and somebody has to pick up the 50 or so innings he was likely to pitch the rest of the way weakening the depth. 
 

So yeah, a bust. 

Call it what you want. It was simply bad luck.  "bust" is stupid.

[Roderick]

19 hours ago, Jopal78 said:

I’d rather have Mears than Zerpa straight up. I’d take Collins even with a bad start over Greg Jones too. 
 

Even at a more base level, Zerpa goes down and somebody has to pick up the 50 or so innings he was likely to pitch the rest of the way weakening the depth. 
 

So yeah, a bust. 

Even if he sucked all year, it is way too early to say bust.  Whether on the player or the trade (from either side).  

Zerpa has five years to develop value.  He might be a below average pen guy until he costs more than min.wage or maybe he is a starter for a couple of years in there, or becomes an Ashby. 

[wiguy94]

45 minutes ago, Roderick said:

Even if he sucked all year, it is way too early to say bust.  Whether on the player or the trade (from either side).  

Zerpa has five years to develop value.  He might be a below average pen guy until he costs more than min.wage or maybe he is a starter for a couple of years in there, or becomes an Ashby. 

You are mistaken. Zerpa is already in arbitration and only has 3 years of team control remaining including this season.

[Roderick]

21 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

You are mistaken. Zerpa is already in arbitration and only has 3 years of team control remaining including this season.

Wow, I assumed too much.  We have him for a total of three arby years.  So, that is not as good, especially if this year is a lost year.  Well hopefully ii is an issue where injury was hindering his performance and whenever he comes back, he will be an above average pitcher (even though he wasn't for KC last year)

[Jopal78]

3 hours ago, StearnsFTW said:

Call it what you want. It was simply bad luck.  "bust" is stupid.

Of course it’s bad luck, but if he has hurt his elbow to where he requires surgery (unknown but getting a second opinion is an ominous indicator) and is out until some unknown time in 2027, while already heading into his second year of arbitration. If all those things turn out to be true, he likely will never pitch again for the Brewers (this is especially so considering all the talent they will need to add to the 40 man roster in the short run).

Thus, if you give up a pitcher like Mears who has been decent for the Royals, along with a depth piece in Collins for 11 innings of Zerpa, it’s the definition of a bust: more talent and production went out the door than came back. 

[Thurston Fluff]

21 hours ago, Jopal78 said:

Of course it’s bad luck, but if he has hurt his elbow to where he requires surgery (unknown but getting a second opinion is an ominous indicator) and is out until some unknown time in 2027, while already heading into his second year of arbitration. If all those things turn out to be true, he likely will never pitch again for the Brewers (this is especially so considering all the talent they will need to add to the 40 man roster in the short run).

Thus, if you give up a pitcher like Mears who has been decent for the Royals, along with a depth piece in Collins for 11 innings of Zerpa, it’s the definition of a bust: more talent and production went out the door than came back. 

It isn't a forgone conclusion they won't offer him arbitration even if he does have surgery on his elbow. He's only going to cost a 40 man spot until he can be placed on the 60 day DL and there's no telling what's going to happen after the season is over given the current agreement with the players is up. When all that is sorted out we might have a clearer picture of whether it was a bust or not. Even then, only if he's not on the roster. If he's still here then we'll have to see how well he does to determine if it was a worthwhile trade or not.