Brewers Give Robert Gasser A Break With Minors Assignment

[Steve Drumwright]

With 17 games in 17 days, you knew there would be moves to keep the Milwaukee Brewers' bullpen fresh. This one, though, has more of an odd feel to it.

The Brewers on Tuesday optioned left-handed starter Robert Gasser to the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and selected the contract of right-handed starter Garrett Stallings from Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers had an opening on their 40-man roster to accommodate Stallings' promotion for his MLB debut.

Gasser had a solid outing in Monday's series opening against the Cincinnati Reds, going 5⅔ and giving up three runs on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts. The move to the ACL generally indicates a team giving a player a break to get some planned rest. Gasser is in his first full MLB season following Tommy John surgery at the beginning of the 2024 season. Combined with his minor-league time, Gasser threw just 43⅔ regular-season innings. He currently is at 62⅔ innings this year between Nashville and the Brewers just past the midpoint of the season.

In seven MLB starts this year, Gasser has a 4.98 FIP (4.54ERA) with an 8.4% walk rate and 23.4% strikeout rate.

Stallings is a 28-year-old who was drafted in 2019 in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Angels. He was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in May 2024 in a minor trade and has been at Nashville since. This year in 12 starts and four relief appearances, Stallings has a 3.45 ERA in 62⅔ innings, walking 22 and striking out 59. He will provide another length option for the Brewers, possibly even making a spot start.

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[adambr2]

Well that is a very nice way to word “enormous paycut”.!

I get it though, they need an arm in this stretch. 

[formerlybis]

Interesting. This is not a name I've heard discussed. They could still bring Gasser back for one of the DH games in STL next Tuesday. 

[liveforoctober]

36 minutes ago, formerlybis said:

Interesting. This is not a name I've heard discussed. They could still bring Gasser back for one of the DH games in STL next Tuesday. 

This is a good thought. Good way to utilize the DH quirk by adding some innings to the bullpen now by making that roster spot a shuttle position while not exactly taking Gasser completely out of the rotation.

[folly412]

Nice to see Stallings.  One of those guys who's not really considered a prospect but put in the work to earn a call-up and at least become a major leaguer.

[BruisedCrew]

I wonder what that does to the 6 man rotation. If they had stuck with that Gasser would have pitched Sunday in Arizona after Harrison and Woodruff. 

Is it possible that Henderson will be back for a start next week?

[wiguy94]

4 minutes ago, BruisedCrew said:

I wonder what that does to the 6 man rotation. If they had stuck with that Gasser would have pitched Sunday in Arizona after Harrison and Woodruff. 

Is it possible that Henderson will be back for a start next week?

This is how roster resource is projecting out our SP through the end of the St. Louis series. I'd guess Gasser is the 27th man for the doubleheader. If this is what happens then Sproat, Drohan, Misiorowski, and Harrison would each make a start on 4 days rest from 7/5 to 7/8.

[BruisedCrew]

I also wonder if they are planning to, use  Misiorowski on Sunday in Pittsburgh, which would effectively take him out of pitching in the ASG.

Or maybe they use the All Star break to give both Misiorowski and Harrison a lengthy break except for ASG activities. I don’t know if Harrison will make the All Star team. He has the credentials, but these days they seem to lean toward a couple of starters and a legion of closers. 

Today’s move makes sense to add another pitcher to eat innings while Gasser would have been unavailable anywaypi

[wiguy94]

8 minutes ago, BruisedCrew said:

I also wonder if they are planning to, use  Misiorowski on Sunday in Pittsburgh, which would effectively take him out of pitching in the ASG.

Or maybe they use the All Star break to give both Misiorowski and Harrison a lengthy break except for ASG activities. I don’t know if Harrison will make the All Star team. He has the credentials, but these days they seem to lean toward a couple of starters and a legion of closers. 

Today’s move makes sense to add another pitcher to eat innings while Gasser would have been unavailable anywaypi

I don't think they would do that. He can use the ASG as his in routine start then coming out of the ASB he can pitch towards the back of the rotation. Basically a way for him to skip a start in the order. 

So he starts on 7/7 then pitches in the ASG on 7/14 then pitches 7/20 or 7/21 coming out of the ASB. Basically gives him 2 weeks off but keeps him in his routine with the ASG. They basically did this same exact thing last year. He started 7/8 then pitched in the ASG on 7/15 then started on 7/22 coming out of the ASB

[formerlybis]

2 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

I don't think they would do that. He can use the ASG as his in routine start then coming out of the ASB he can pitch towards the back of the rotation. Basically a way for him to skip a start in the order. 

Not clear what you think they won't do. The rotation should be set up for Woodruff/Sproat/Drohan in PIT, though that Sunday-before-ASB always has possibilities for one-inning appearances by guys like Miz or Harrison (probably not Henderson, but who knows). 

[wiguy94]

1 minute ago, formerlybis said:

Not clear what you think they won't do. The rotation should be set up for Woodruff/Sproat/Drohan in PIT, though that Sunday-before-ASB always has possibilities for one-inning appearances by guys like Miz or Harrison (probably not Henderson, but who knows). 

I was saying I don't think they would start Misiorowski the game before the ASB so he can't pitch in the ASG.

[BruisedCrew]

I didn’t focus on the fact that Gasser was sent to the Arizona rookie league. Presumably a convenience since the Brewers will be in Arizona over the weekend. He’ll probably end up traveling with the team to St. Louis so he can be there to start on Tuesday.

[LouisEly]

56 minutes ago, BruisedCrew said:

I didn’t focus on the fact that Gasser was sent to the Arizona rookie league. Presumably a convenience since the Brewers will be in Arizona over the weekend. He’ll probably end up traveling with the team to St. Louis so he can be there to start on Tuesday.

Also from a roster limit standpoint, it's easier to stash someone on an ACL squad than AAA or AA where they have lower roster limits.

[rickh150]

GReat points…I agree that the double header would be a great time to pull Gasser back up. Meanwhile we get a guy to mop up some games and add depth to the bullpen.  
ANd Gasser might pitch the last game before the All Star break too….saving Miz.

[Brian]

14 hours ago, folly412 said:

Nice to see Stallings.  One of those guys who's not really considered a prospect but put in the work to earn a call-up and at least become a major leaguer.

The Milwaukee Brewers traded reliever Thyago Vieira to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, May 24, 2024.  In exchange, the Brewers picked up minor league right-hander Garrett Stallings. 

https://reviewingthebrew.com/brewers-promote-right-hander-from-2024-trade-with-orioles-to-big-league-roster-01kwd1vkd38c#:~:text=To spoil the suspense%2C that,and right-handed pitcher Aneuris Rodriguez.

[Underachiever]

1 hour ago, Brian said:

The Milwaukee Brewers traded reliever Thyago Vieira to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, May 24, 2024.  In exchange, the Brewers picked up minor league right-hander Garrett Stallings. 

https://reviewingthebrew.com/brewers-promote-right-hander-from-2024-trade-with-orioles-to-big-league-roster-01kwd1vkd38c#:~:text=To spoil the suspense%2C that,and right-handed pitcher Aneuris Rodriguez.

So, did we win the trade? DID WE WIN THE TRADE????!!!!!

[igor67]

11 minutes ago, Underachiever said:

So, did we win the trade? DID WE WIN THE TRADE????!!!!!

Nope we've just been Stallings for time...

[formerlybis]

9 hours ago, rickh150 said:

GReat points…I agree that the double header would be a great time to pull Gasser back up. Meanwhile we get a guy to mop up some games and add depth to the bullpen.  
ANd Gasser might pitch the last game before the All Star break too….saving Miz.

Well, if Gasser does get called in to pitch one of the doubleheader games, the rule is that the "27th man" has to go back down to the minors immediately afterwards. Plus, they're likely to call up Henderson next week and someone else will have to go down, too. 

I wonder if they can get through this Reds series without using Stallings that they might have him make a start in Arizona - perhaps Friday? - and push the rest of the rotation down a day. Then keep him in the pen for the STL series until Henderson comes back, and then send him back down, If we do that, then the rotation for the 3-gamer in PIT is Harrison/Henderson (whoever doesn't pitch the final game in STL), Woodruff, and Sproat. That means we could use Drohan in long relief after his start in STL - he's pretty likely to be in that role after the ASB anyway.

Not sure having Stallings start a game is a good idea, though - the bullpen may need his arm more than we need to have starters resting.

[Brian]

2 hours ago, Underachiever said:

So, did we win the trade?  DID WE WIN THE TRADE????!!!!!

I would say yes we did win by a mile, since Thyago Vieira isn't pitching anymore.    Thyago Vieira had Tommy John Surgery and in a Mexican league now. 🙃 

[rickh150]

4 hours ago, formerlybis said:

Well, if Gasser does get called in to pitch one of the doubleheader games, the rule is that the "27th man" has to go back down to the minors immediately afterwards. 

 Didnt know that rule..or Forgot about it. I assumed anyone could be sent down after the 2nd game.

Still think Gasser pitches then. And not convinced Miz is pitching next weekend.  Maybe a bullpen game or Henderson throws two games next week.