What is a reliever's reward for a stellar three-inning performance that saved other bullpen members?
For right-hander Garrett Stallings, it is a trip back to the minors, but with great appreciation. Such is the life at the back end of the bullpen. Stallings was optioned back to Triple-A Nashville on Friday by the Milwaukee Brewers, who called up left-hander Colton Gordon from the Sounds.
Stallings turned in his second three-inning outing in his most recent call-up in Thursday's 7-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Stallings did not allow a run while striking out six and allowing just one hit and one walk. He hasn't allowed a run in any of his six appearances with the Brewers this year over 14 innings, giving up just four hits with 17 strikeouts and five walks, perhaps putting himself in the conversation for a spot on the postseason roster.
Gordon comes up for the first time since the Brewers acquired him with Lance McCullers Jr. and cash on July 15 for minor-league outfielder Jadyn Fielder. Gordon has appeared in 24 MLB games with the Astros, including 15 starts. Only four of those appearances and one start came this year, allowing 12 runs in 9⅓ innings with three walks and 11 strikeouts. At Triple-A Nashville this year, he has made 10 starts and pitched 54 innings, with a 4.69 ERA, 6.1% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate.
Meanwhile, the Brewers on Thursday designated left-hander reliever Rob Zastryzny for assignment. He was on the 15-day injured list due to a left trapezius strain and out on a rehab assignment.
An injury to a valuable bullpen arm has paved the return of a young starter.
The Milwaukee Brewers on Monday called up right-hander Brandon Sproat from Triple-A Nashville as they put right-handed reliever Grant Anderson on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right biceps.
Anderson pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings in Sunday's 12-8 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, only giving up one hit, while walking two and striking out two. Anderson is one of the key relievers to the Crew's B bullpen, the relievers deployed in blowout wins and losses, able to cover multiple innings. He has a 4.32 FIP (3.36 ERA) with a 9.8% walk rate and 22.1% strikeout rate.
Sproat returns after struggling in the starting rotation and being sent down to Nashville to sort things out. After a very rough first game with the Sounds, allowing six runs on eight hits over four innings on Aug. 4, Sproat followed that up with four of his five outings being scoreless. He pitched a combined 18 innings at Nashville, allowing eight runs on 12 hits with 10 walks and 27 strikeouts.
Sproat could step into the rotation spot held by left-hander Kyle Harrison, who has had trouble commanding his fastball. Manager Pat Murphy said a shift to the bullpen was likely in Harrison's future as the Brewers try to shape up their pitching plan for the postseason.
The Brewers entered Monday's opener of a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs with the best record in baseball at 88-56 and a seven-game lead over the second-place Cubs in the NL Central.
While there is a huge qualifier to this announcement, it still deserves its proper space.
The Milwaukee Brewers will begin Cactus League play on Feb. 19 with a home game at American Family Fields of Phoenix against the Los Angeles Angels. The Crew will play 32 exhibition games, 15 at home. All 30 teams will play that same day.
The Brewers will conclude Cactus League play with games March 22-23 against the rival Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., before opening the 2027 season at home vs. the Angels on March 25.
And now for the line that has to be included with any story about the start of the 2027 MLB season: Everything is dependent on owners and the MLB Players Association reaching a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement. The last time the owners locked out the players was 2022, with an agreement reached March 10, just three weeks before the scheduled start of the regular season.
Kuhnel was designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. Kuhnel had been on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement since July 4. He had been on a rehab assignment since Aug. 2, but with that 30-day period expiring, the Brewers activated him from the IL and DFA'd him. The Brewers' 40-man roster stands at 38.
Kuhnel, who doesn't have minor-league options remaining, hits the waiver wire and could be claimed. If he goes unclaimed, he could be assigned to Triple-A Nashville, be released or become a free agent.
But the results haven't been there for Kuhnel either. In 10 games, Kuhnel had a 9.30 FIP (6.52 ERA) with a 12.2% walk rate and 16.3% strikeout rate. The Brewers acquired Kuhnel on June 6 for cash after he had been DFA'd by the A's.
The long wait for JoJo Romero to make his Milwaukee Brewers debut is over.
The left-handed reliever, acquired at the Aug. 3 trade deadline, was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Brewers, who also called up catcher Bo Naylor from Triple-A Nashville as rosters expanded from 26 to 28 Tuesday.
Romero, picked up along with right-handed starter Dustin May from the NL Central rival St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline, has been sidelined since mid-July following an appendectomy. He had two recent rehab appearances and then threw a bullpen to show his readiness before being activated. Romero fortifies the back end of the bullpen and provides another late-inning left-handed option other than Aaron Ashby. In 44 games and 43 innings this season, Romero has a 3.99 FIP (3.35 ERA) with an 8.6% walk rate and 23.1% strikeout rate this year.
Naylor was also acquired at the trade deadline from the Cleveland Guardians along with right-handed reliever Codi Heuer for center fielder Blake Perkins and right-handed reliever Blake Perkins. Heuer was quickly cut loose by the Brewers without making an appearance. Naylor has been at Triple-A Nashville and now comes up to allow manager Pat Murphy more flexibility with how he deploys starting catcher William Contreras and backup Gary Sanchez while having a safety net in Naylor. Unlike his brother, Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor, Bo Naylor doesn't do much offensively. He was slashing .143/.200/.238 with two homers and seven RBIs in 28 games with the Guardians before being sent to Triple-A. He made his MLB debut with the Guardians in 2022 and has a career slash line of .199/.279/.372. Naylor was added as the 27th player for the Little League Classic but did not play.
Over the weekend, Abner Uribe went viral for wearing the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' brat uniforms. Now, the Milwaukee Brewers' right-handed reliever is done wearing silly (complimentary) alternate uniforms for minor-league teams.
The Brewers on Monday activated Uribe off the 15-day injured list and put right-handed reliever Bryse Wilson on the 15-day IL. Wilson has a low-back strain.
Uribe, the Brewers' primary setup man for closer Trevor Megill, went on the IL Aug. 14 with a strained right forearm flexor. He spent just over the minimum on the IL and made two rehab appearances before joining the Brewers in time for the four-game series at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, who trail the Crew by eight games in the NL Central. The two teams play each other seven times over the next 10 days.
Wilson was injured during Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Texas Rangers. He grabbed at his lower back in the ninth inning and was looked at by the training staff, remaining in the game. Wilson went 2⅔ innings in another bullpen-saving outing.
The Brewers are still waiting for left-hander JoJo Romero, who was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline while on the IL following an appendectomy. He also has made two rehab appearances and could be activated when rosters expand by two on Tuesday.
Right fielder Sal Frelick was activated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday by the Milwaukee Brewers. Infielder-outfielder Jonathan Ornelas was designated for assignment. Also, left-handed reliever JoJo Romero (appendectomy) and right-hander Abner Uribe (right forearm flexor strain) were sent to the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to begin a rehab assignment. Romero was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline.
Frelick has been out since July 18 due to a strained right shoulder. A terrific defender, Frelick has not been as big of an offensive contributor this season, putting up a .236/.301/.330 slash line with four homers, 34 RBIs and six steals in 90 games. Last year, Frelick had a career season with a slash line of .288/.351/.405 with 12 homers, 63 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in 142 games.
Ornelas was a stopgap solution as the Brewers had injuries on the infield. He was acquired in an Aug. 15 trade with the A's for cash and played in three games, going 2-for-9 with an RBI and a run scored.
It only took one minor-league rehab assignment for the Milwaukee Brewers to determine that Cooper Pratt was ready to return.
The Brewers activated the rookie shortstop from the 10-day injured list Wednesday and he was expected back in the lineup for tonight's game against the Seattle Mariners. Pratt has been out since Aug. 9 with a strained right hamstring. Outfielder Brandon Lockridge was optioned to Triple-A Nashville to make room on the 26-man roster. Also, infielder-outfielder Jihwan Bae cleared waivers and was outrighted to Nashville. Bae has the choice to accept the assignment or become a free agent.
The 22-year-old Pratt made his only rehab appearance Tuesday for the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, going 1-for-2 with an RBI on a sacrifice fly and a run scored. He played seven innings on defense, batting second. He has been a nice contributor offensively in his first 44 MLB games since his debut in June, putting together a .272/.352/.368 slash line with two homers, 17 RBIs and 10 steals. His return allows Joey Ortiz and David Hamilton to resume their platoon at third base and not having to shift second baseman Brice Turang over to his natural position of shortstop, a spot he has played sparingly in the majors.
Lockridge returned Aug. 1 from a gruesome knee laceration he sustained while sliding into a concrete wall attempting to catch a foul ball May 8. He has played in 10 games since, going 2-for-14. He will get regular playing time at Triple-A and a top candidate to be called up when rosters expand Sept. 1. For the season, Lockridge is slashing .273/.345/.313 with no homers, 12 RBIs and six stolen bases.
Still looking to shore up their infield depth due to recent injuries, the Milwaukee Brewers have acquired infielder-outfielder Jonathan Ornelas from the A's for cash considerations. Infielder-outfielder Jihwan Bae, who just signed Sunday with the Brewers, was designated for assignment to make room for Ornelas.
Ornelas, primarily a shortstop, just re-signed Friday with the A's after being DFA'd himself by the A's a few days earlier. He appeared in six games for the A's, going 2-for-12 with a walk and seven strikeouts. Ornelas has been in 38 MLB over the last four seasons, including 30 with the Texas Rangers, and put together a .200/.257/.231 slash line with no homers and three RBIs, four walks and 27 strikeouts in 71 plate appearances.
Bae got into four games and went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt and a run scored.
The Brewers' infield depth has been tested with rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt going on the 10-day injured list, then shortstop-third baseman Joey Ortiz battling a neck ailment and now second baseman Brice Turang, who has missed the first two games of the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to pain in his left knee. The Brewers are hoping to avoid putting Turang on the IL following an MRI. Prospect Jett Williams is on the minor-league injured list.
In a potentially big blow to the Milwaukee Brewers, right-handed reliever Abner Uribe was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with a strained flexor in his right forearm. Right-handed reliever Grant Anderson was called up from Triple-A Nashville.
The severity of the injury was not immediately known.
Uribe has been the primary setup man for the Brewers after initially sharing closer duties with right-hander Trevor Megill. Uribe has a 3.08 FIP (2.05 ERA) in 49 games and 48⅓ innings this season. He has converted six saves in eight chances this season, while having a 9.4% walk rate and 25.1% strikeout rate. His strikeout rate is down about 5 points from last year's 30.2%.
Losing Uribe for any length of time will be difficult for the Brewers' bullpen, but especially as the NL Central-leading team approaches the postseason. While Anderson fills that roster spot, filling that role will be more critical for manager Pat Murphy and pitching coach Chris Hook.
Anderson has been at Triple-A Nashville since Aug. 4, when the Brewers activated left-handed starter Kyle Harrison from the 15-day IL. In 44 games and 48⅔ innings, Anderson has a 4.44 FIP (3.70 ERA) with a 9.4 walk rate and 21.5% strikeout rate.
Also, the Brewers outrighted right-handed reliever Lyon Richardson to Triple-A. Richardson has the option of becoming a free agent or reporting to Nashville.
After a few days in limbo, Bryse Wilson is back with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The right-hander, who was designated for assignment Saturday, went unclaimed and then became a free agent Monday, re-signed with the Brewers on Tuesday. To fit Wilson on the 26- and 40-man rosters, right-hander Lyon Richardson was DFA'd after making his long appearance for the Brewers on Monday. Also, left-handed reliever Drew Rom was claimed off waivers by the A's.
Wilson was able to return quickly to the Brewers after he was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville, but choosing free agency Monday. That circumvents a pitcher having to spend the required time in the minors before being called up in a non-injury situation. For pitchers, that is 15 days.
While it is a little surprising that Wilson, who was DFA'd twice before being done so by the Crew, went unclaimed, it isn't a shocker that he returned to the Brewers. After having a combined three appearances with the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs, Wilson has pitched in six games for the Crew, going 13⅔ innings with a 2.63 ERA, no walks and 10 strikeouts. The Brewers' bullpen was in need of another arm after Wilson went three shutout innings Friday in an 8-6 loss to the Minnesota Twins, which prompted his latest DFA.
Richardson, who came up from Triple-A Nashville to replace Wilson, went 1⅔ scoreless innings with a walk and a strikeout in Monday's 3-2 loss to the San Diego Padres. That came after Richardson appeared in two games for the Cincinnati Reds this season, allowing five runs in 1⅔ innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
If he goes unclaimed, he could go back to Nashville or elect free agency.
Rom was DFA'd Sunday when the Brewers needed to add Jihwan Bae to the roster.
The first health obstacle has jumped into Cooper Pratt's MLB career.
The rookie shortstop was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring Sunday by the Milwaukee Brewers, who signed infielder-outfielder Ji Hwan Bae to a minor-league contract and called him up to the majors. Left-handed reliever Drew Rom was designated for assignment.
It was not immediately clear when Pratt was injured as he played all nine innings of Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins, although manager Pat Murphy said Pratt did have an MRI on the hammy. Pratt is slashing .272/.352/.368 with two homers, 17 RBIs and 10 steals in his first 44 MLB games since making his debut in June. Hamstring injuries can often be slow to heal, depending on their severity.
Bae was recently released from Triple-A by the New York Mets, having put up a .257/.360/.368 slash line with five homers, 32 RBIs and 36 steals in 91 games. He last appeared in the majors in 2025 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and has a career slash line of .223/.294/.293 in 163 games over four MLB seasons, all with the Pirates. He has split his time this year between second base and the outfield and has just three games of MLB experience at shortstop.
That means that David Hamilton, who started at shortstop Sunday, and Joey Ortiz, who was the Opening Day shortstop and the starter until Pratt was called up, will replace Pratt. However, Ortiz is battling neck tightness that forced him out of Saturday's game and kept him out of Sunday's lineup. Top infielder prospect Jett Williams, who is at Triple-A Nashville, is battling wrist soreness and was just sent to Arizona.
The cruel reality of life at the end of a bullpen has bitten Bryse Wilson.
The right-hander was designated for assignment Saturday by the Milwaukee Brewers, who selected the contract of right-hander Lyon Richardson from Triple-A Nashville. Also, right fielder Sal Frelick was sent on a rehab assignment to Nashville as he comes back from a strained right shoulder.
Wilson was a bullpen-saver in Friday's 8-6 loss to open a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins. He went three shutout innings, allowing a hit and no walks, striking out two. It was his sixth appearance for the Crew, who signed Wilson after he had been DFA'd by the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs. In those six games, Wilson went 13⅔ innings with a 2.63 ERA, no walks and 10 strikeouts.
The Brewers' bullpen has been used heavily in recent days and the need was for a fresh arm. That brings in Richardson, who was signed to a minor-league deal in June after being DFA'd and released by the Cincinnati Reds. Richardson has appeared in 41 games for the Reds in the last four seasons, including two this year, with a 6.29 FIP (6.67 ERA) with a 14.6% walk rate and 17.2% strikeout rate.
Richardson is likely just a safety net as he can go multiple innings. The Brewers are awaiting the returns of right-hander Joel Kuhnel (right rotator cuff tendinopathy), left-hander JoJo Romero (appendectomy) and left-hander Rob Zastryzny (left upper trap strain) from the injured list. Kuhnel is on a rehab assignment, while Romero was acquired Monday from the St. Louis Cardinals. Also, right-hander Grant Anderson was sent down to Triple-A on Wednesday and can't return to the Brewers until 10 days pass unless he is an injury replacement.
The newfound depth on the Milwaukee Brewers' pitching staff has cost Grant Anderson his spot ... for now.
The right-handed reliever was optioned to Triple-A Nashville as left-hander Kyle Harrison, as expected, was activated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Harrison has been sidelined for the last three weeks with left forearm tightness.
Anderson has been a key reliever to the Brewers' B bullpen, the unit that usually comes in when the team trails or is up by a wide enough margin not to need the high-leverage arms. Anderson has made 44 appearances over 48⅔ innings and posted a 4.45 FIP (3.70 ERA) with a 9.4% walk rate and 21.5% strikeout rate.
Anderson's spot became vulnerable after the Brewers acquired starter Dustin May and right-handed reliever Antonio Senzatela at Monday's trade deadline. Another reliever, left-hander JoJo Romero, who was also picked up was placed on the 15-day IL due to an appendectomy.
The Milwaukee Brewers are giving right-handed starter Brandon Sproat a chance to reset, but it will be in the minors.
Following another rocky start Monday, Sproat was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday by the Brewers. Right-handed reliever Garrett Stallings also went to Nashville as the Brewers added right-handers Dustin May and Antonio Senzatela, two of the three players acquired in trades the day before, to the 26-man roster.
They were already on the 40-man roster, which had room following the trade of right-handed reliever Codi Heuer to the Baltimore Orioles and right-handed starter Carlos Rodriguez was designated for assignment on Monday. Left-handed reliever JoJo Romero, the other player acquired Monday, was placed on the 15-day injured list, which is where he was with the St. Louis Cardinals, after having an appendectomy in mid-July.
Sproat gave up five hits and walked two while allowing four runs and striking out four in three-plus innings of a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has given up 12 runs over 16⅔ in his last four starts with 11 walks. He also has 16 walks over his previous six outings. Sproat's pitches have tremendous movement and he has lost the ability to manage that part of his game. Now he will go to Nashville and be in a less-pressurized environment with an eye on returning for the stretch drive and the postseason.
One of the Milwaukee Brewers' spark plugs from the beginning of the season is back.
Outfielder Brandon Lockridge was activated Saturday from the 60-day injured list by the Brewers, who also called up right-handed reliever Garrett Stallings from Triple-A Nashville. Lockridge has been out since a slide into the corner of a cement wall on May 8 created a deep gash on his right knee.
The moves also fill out the Brewers' 26-man roster following the trade with the Cleveland Guardians that sent right-handed reliever Craig Yoho and outfielder Blake Perkins to the Cleveland Guardians for right-handed reliever Codi Heuer and catcher Bo Naylor. Those two players have yet to report to the Brewers, which is likely to happen Sunday. They were already added to the 40-man roster, which had an opening to accommodate the activation of Lockridge.
Lockridge, acquired at last year's trade deadline from the San Diego Padres for left-hander Nestor Cortes and prospect shortstop Jorge Quintana, was slashing .294/.368/.341 with no homers and 12 RBIs in 28 games before he was injured.
Stallings is with the Crew for the third time this season and has yet to allow a run in five innings, giving up one hit with two walks and five strikeouts.
As the Milwaukee Brewers look for a way to limit the regular-season innings from their young starting rotation, that creates opportunities and good stories.
One of those is left-handed starter Thomas Pannone, who had his contract selected from Triple-A Nashville and will start for the Brewers in Wednesday's series finale against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Right-hander Garrett Stallings was optioned to Nashville. The Brewers had two openings on the 40-man roster, so a move there was not necessary. Pannone is back in MLB since a one-game stint in 2023 with the Brewers. Before that, he made 49 appearances over the 2018-19 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Also, left-handed reliever DL Hall's rehab assignment was moved from Triple-A to High-A Wisconsin. Hall is making his way back from a left pectoral strain.
The 32-year-old Pannone missed all of the 2025 season after sustaining a flexor tendon injury in his left forearm in spring training with the Brewers. He has posted a 4.13 ERA in 16 games (all but one a start), walking 22 and striking out 57 in 72 innings.
Left-hander Shane Drohan, Wednesday's scheduled starter, has earned a regular spot in the rotation, but has also pitched 95⅔ innings between Triple-A and the Brewers, already far more than the 54 innings he threw in 2025 as he came back from shoulder surgery and forearm inflammation.
Stallings, in his second stay with the Crew this year, pitched two innings in Monday's 3-0 loss to the Giants.
Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace.
What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Brewer Fanatic.
From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser.
Additionally, a newer, completely updated Brewer Fanatic is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users.
With that said, here’s how you turn Brewer Fanatic into an app on your mobile device.
After acquiring the two-time World Series champion in a trade July 15, McCullers was designated for assignment Sunday by the Brewers. Right-hander Garrett Stallings was called up from Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers now have two open spots on their 40-man roster as the trade deadline approaches.
McCullers was a relatively low-cost acquisition, costing the Brewers minor-league outfielder Jadyn Fielder, son of former Crew slugger Prince Fielder, and covering $2 million of his remaining salary. But McCullers, a starter with six career relief appearances before being traded, made both of his appearances out of the Brewers' bullpen, including one Saturday in an 8-3 win over the Colorado Rockies.
McCullers had a 4.18 FIP (3.86 ERA) in 4⅔ innings, giving up five runs (two earned) on three hits with five walks and five strikeouts. These were McCullers' first two MLB games since going on the injured list in mid-May with right shoulder inflammation.
The Brewers are still looking for a quality arm to replace veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff in the rotation.
Stallings was called up at the end of June and made his MLB debut with a pair of appearances, allowing just one hit and one walk with four strikeouts over three innings.
The Milwaukee Brewers' stolen base leader is back in the fold. Just what role he plays now is a question.
Infielder David Hamilton was activated off the 10-day injured list Friday by the Brewers, with infielder Braden Shewmake designated for assignment.
Hamilton went on the IL July 7 with a strained left hamstring after having to quickly stop and scurry back to second base in the game the day before. He played in two rehab games before being activated for the Brewers' series against the Colorado Rockies.
Hamilton has been an offensive spark plug, putting up a slash line of .240/.317/.333 with three home runs, 15 RBIs and a team-high 18 stolen bases, while also being a good defender while seeing most of his time at third base. But that situation has changed with Joey Ortiz being more productive offensively at third base and rookie Cooper Pratt the full-time shortstop. Hamilton, in addition to backing up both of those positions, could give Brice Turang an occasional break at second base.
Shewmake was acquired by the Brewers on July 12 after being DFA'd by the Houston Astros as he was seen as an upgrade over Greg Jones, who was DFA'd to make room for Shewmake. Shewmake appeared in just four games, going 2-for-7, with both hits coming in Saturday's 8-6 win over the Miami Marlins. His big moment was a double that started a four-run sixth-inning rally in which he also scored, then also singled and scored in a two-run seventh. He also had a sacrifice fly in the game.
The Milwaukee Brewers will be without their starting right fielder for a while.
Sal Frelick was put on the 10-day injured list Saturday by the Brewers due to a strained right (throwing) shoulder. Outfielder Blake Perkins was called up from Triple-A Nashville.
Frelick was injured during Friday's 2-1 victory over the Miami Marlins. In the top of the fourth inning, Frelick made a throw from right field toward second base on a double by Otto Lopez that took several bounces to get there, not a throw you would expect from the 2024 Gold Glove winner. Manager Pat Murphy said after the game that Frelick had an issue with the should earlier in the season.
He remained in on defense, but was replaced the next inning by rookie Luis Lara.
Frelick has struggled offensively this season after being in contention for a batting title at the end of last year. He currently has a slash line of .236/.301/.330 with four homers and 34 RBIs, with six steals. Last season's slash line was .288/.351/.405.
Perkins is a terrific defender, but has not been able to get going offensively, which led to him not originally making the Opening Day roster. He has only been called up due to injuries, with this being the third time. Perkins has a .157/.250/.258 slash line in 53 games with one homer and 11 RBIs.
One somewhat surprising move led to another somewhat surprising move.
The Milwaukee Brewers on Friday activated right-handed starter Lance McCullers Jr., who was on the 15-day injured list at the time he was acquired Wednesday from the Houston Astros, and optioned veteran left-handed reliever Jared Koenig to Triple-A Nashville. McCullers had been on the IL since May 19 due to right shoulder inflammation. He had been due to make another rehab start Friday for the Astros' Double-A affiliate before the trade went down.
McCullers is not scheduled to start any of the three games this weekend at home against the Miami Marlins. It is possible that he goes in one of the three games against the New York Mets to begin next week. A bullpen role feels unlikely as McCullers has made just three relief appearances since the 2020 season, with all three coming last year. A few days before his first Brewers appearance allows pitching coach Chris Hook to do a little work with McCullers.
McCullers made eight starts this year before his IL stint, posting a 5.06 FIP (6.86 ERA) with a poor 12.8% walk rate and just-below-average 25% strikeout rate.
Koenig has appeared in six games since returning from the 15-day IL with a sprained left elbow. While his first two outings went as expected, with a scoreless inning each, the final four have not. Koenig has allowed seven runs in 2⅔ innings on seven hits and five walk with two strikeouts. Five of those runs and five of those hits came in his last appearance Sunday in a 14-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he did not record an out.
Also, infielder-outfielder Greg Jones, who was designated for assignment Sunday and went unclaimed, was outrighted to Triple-A, but chose to become a free agent instead. Players can be outrighted once in their career before having the choice to become a free agent.
For the third year in a row, the Milwaukee Brewers will open the 2027 season with an interleague series. That is, if the season starts as scheduled.
The Crew will begin 2027 at American Family Field with a six-game homestand, starting with the season-opening series against the Los Angeles Angels. MLB announced the schedules for all 30 teams Thursday. The last time the Brewers and Angels squared off on Opening Day was 1996 at Anaheim Stadium.
After those three games, the Brewers will host Atlanta for three games, then embark on a six-game interleague road trip against the Chicago White Sox (April 1-4, with a day off built in) and the Toronto Blue Jays (April 5-7).
On March 24, there will be a single game to begin the season as there was this year between the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees, with all of the other season-opening series happening on March 25, the earliest traditional Opening Day in MLB history. The first Brewers series against the NL Central rival Chicago Cubs will be at Wrigley Field on April 26-28, with Chicago making its first trip to Milwaukee on May 17-20.
Next year's All-Star Game is at Wrigley Field on July 13.
That game will be sandwiched around the Crew's longest road trip and longest homestand. Before the break, the Brewers will be on the road for 10 games against the Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and Cleveland Guardians. After the break, the Brewers will be at home for 10 in a row against the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers and Miami Marlins.
The Brewers will wrap up the regular season with a six-game road trip against the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers. Four of the Brewers' final five series are against AL teams, with their final set against the Cubs coming Sept. 4-6 at American Family Field.
The start of the season is in doubt due to a probable lockout by owners as the collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1.
The 2026 Bryse Wilson tour is making a stop in Milwaukee.
The right-handed reliever signed a major-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. Left-handed reliever Drew Rom was optioned to Triple-A Nashville and right-handed reliever Easton McGee was designated for assignment.
Not only is Wilson back with the Brewers for a second time in his career, but Milwaukee marks his third team in the past three weeks. Wilson was designated for assignment by the Philadelphia Phillies on June 22, then claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs two days later. The Cubs then DFA'd Wilson on Saturday and he went unclaimed and chose to become a free agent. Now he is with the Brewers, the team he pitched for in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
As a former starter, Wilson provides length out of the bullpen. He has made just three relief appearances in the majors since being called up by the Phillies on June 18 after he triggered an upward-mobility clause in his contract. Wilson has pitched 9⅔ innings, allowing seven runs on 13 hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. No doubt he is looking to rediscover the magic he found with the Brewers, when he made 87 appearances (nine starts) over 181⅓ innings, posting a 4.68 FIP (3.42 ERA) with a 7% walk rate and 18.9% strikeout rate.
Rom made five appearances with the Crew, going 5⅔ innings, walking four (14.8%) and striking out 11 (40.7%).
McGee was on the verge of making the Brewers' Opening Day roster when they acquired Jake Woodford in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. Instead, McGee was optioned to Triple-A, where he has spent most of the season. He was called up twice and made two appearances, allowing no runs on one hit with one walk and one strikeout.
The Milwaukee Brewers have one of their key arms back.
Right-hander Logan Henderson was activated from the 15-day injured list and will start for the Brewers in Thursday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals. Right-hander Garrett Stallings was optioned to Triple-A Nashville.
Henderson has been out since late May with a strained lower back. Henderson was not on the Opening Day roster and then made an early spot start before coming up again in early May. Overall, he has made five starts and pitched 23 innings, with a 2.42 FIP (2.74 ERA) along with a 6.7% walk rate and 33.3% strikeout rate.
If Henderson goes 2⅓ innings today, he will match the number of innings he pitched last year with the Brewers in his MLB debut season. Henderson also returns to the rotation as the Brewers have lost veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who is considering shoulder surgery with a new injury.
Stallings made two appearances since being called up June 30, including his MLB debut. In those two outings, Stallings pitched two scoreless innings, allowing a hit, walking one and striking out four.