Brandon Sproat Returns To Brewers As Grant Anderson Lands On Injured List

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.