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  • MLB Notes

    Read quick notes on the Milwaukee Brewers big league club, including injuries, lineup changes and roster moves.

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      Steve Drumwright

       

      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.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      With the success the Milwaukee Brewers have had in recent seasons, it is only natural for other teams to come calling when they have vacancies, whether it is in the front office or the coaching staff.

      Matt Kleine, the Brewers' assistant general manager, has been a popular name the last two years. Kleine is "a serious candidate" to take over the Houston Astros' baseball operations, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

      The Astros terminated the contract of general manager Dana Brown on Aug. 24. Brown's deal was scheduled to expire following the season.

      Kleine has been the top assistant to president of baseball operations Matt Arnold. He joined the Brewers as a scout in 2007, following a brief internship with the Astros. Kleine climbed his way up the ladder and has been a member of the baseball ops staff since 2014. He became the assistant GM after the 2023 season.

      Kleine will have to figure out whether he wants the top job while working for an owner, Jim Crane, who has been heavy-handed in personnel moves.

       

      Steve Drumwright

      Clear your calendars, Wisconsin. Game times have been set for all seven games of the World Series.

      MLB on Friday set the start times for 7 p.m. CT for all seven games of the World Series, which for the first time since 1982 will feature the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers swept the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series and now await the winner of the AL Championship Series between the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays and the second-seeded Cleveland Guardians.

      While MLB says 7 p.m., there are often ceremonies that lead into World Series games that could push actual start times back about 10 to 20 minutes.

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      A post shared by Milwaukee Brewers (@brewers)

      The Brewers will host the first two World Series games at American Family Field on Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24. After taking a day off, Games 3-5 will be at the AL site the following Monday-Wednesday, with Games 6 and 7 back in Milwaukee that Friday and Saturday (Oct. 30-31). Yes, the World Series could finish on Halloween.

      Fox will carry all seven games, with pregame shows beginning at 6 p.m. CT. Joe Davis and John Smoltz, the same crew that called the NLCS, will call the games for the World Series.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Milwaukee Brewers already landed the postseason hardware they were seeking. Now, some players are starting to haul in some trophies of their own.

      Just days after winning the World Series, second baseman Brice Turang and left fielder Jackson Chourio each won NL Gold Gloves on Sunday. For Turang, it was his second Gold Glove, having also won in 2024 when he snagged the Platinum Glove as the NL's top overall defender regardless of position. Chourio's Gold Glove was the first of his three-year career.

      Turang, in his fourth MLB season, made just five errors in 593 chances at second base, seeing time at the position in 151 games, including 148 starts. He also led the NL with 219 putouts and was tops in MLB at the position with 91 double plays. His 15 total zone rating led MLB, according to Baseball Reference

      In 151 games (148 starts) at second base, Turang had a .992 fielding percentage, with a career-low five errors in 593 chances. He led the NL with 219 putouts and MLB with 91 double plays. He also led MLB with 15 total zone field runs above average, per Baseball Reference, and 19 outs above average, per Statcast.

      Chourio has made a remarkable improvement in his defense since breaking into the majors. While he has made just two errors, both in center field in 2025, during his three seasons, his paths to balls and reluctance to make certain plays marked the early portion of his young career. Not this year. Chourio looked like a defensive star in left field this year and even his 13 appearances in center. But in 123 games (112 starts) in left, he caught all 199 fly balls and liners, while notching eight assists for a .989 fielding percentage. He had eight total zone field runs above average and seven OAA.

      Chourio halted the four-year run of Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs as the NL Gold Glove left fielder.

      Both players are now eligible to win the NL Platinum Glove, which will be announced Friday.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      In a move made about 30 minutes before the first pitch of Tuesday's doubleheader, the Milwaukee Brewers placed infielder David Hamilton on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. Infielder-outfielder Greg Jones had his contract selected from Triple-A Nashville and outfielder Brandon Lockridge (right knee laceration) was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

      The Brewers also sent right-handed pitcher Carlos Rodriguez (right shoulder impingement) on a rehab assignment to Nashville.

      Hamilton was injured in Monday's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals as he rounded second base and stopped suddenly to go back to the bag instead of advancing to third base. Hamilton and his speed have been an integral part of the Brewers' offense despite a subpar .240/.317/.333 slash line. He has hit three homers and driven in 15 in 74 games, while stealing a team-high 18 bases.

      Jones is up for the second time this season. He appeared in 11 games and went 2-for-21. Jones has the ability to play infield, which would cover for Hamilton's absence, as well as the outfield.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      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.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The summer of Sal is back in action.

      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.

       

      Steve Drumwright

      All of the work he did to even potentially just pitch one inning in the World Series paid off.

      Brandon Woodruff is on the Milwaukee Brewers' roster for the World Series.

      Woodruff, whose career nearly ended unceremoniously when he walked off the mound with a bum right shoulder July 4, was an emotional addition to the Brewers' 26-man roster that was announced Friday. The Brewers open the 2026 World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday (7 p.m. CT, Fox).

      Woodruff's addition to the roster comes at the expense of right-hander Chad Patrick being left off. Patrick has not pitched in a postseason game this year despite being on the roster for both previous rounds. No other changes were made to the Brewers' roster from the previous two rounds.

      The 33-year-old right-hander, a stalwart of the Brewers' rotation until a shoulder injury sidelined him just before the 2024 postseason, has only faced hitters in live batting practice Tuesday since that devastating July 4 day, the third setback of 2026 during Woodruff's comeback from surgery three years ago. The start to his season was also slightly delayed and he then went on the injured list following an April 30 game from which he was also removed. Both games he left happened to be against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

      Woodruff is the Brewers' longest-tenured player and was one of the team's top starting pitchers until his shoulder issue popped up on the eve of the 2023 postseason, preventing him from pitching. Surgery took him out of all of 2024 and he was on the comeback trail in 2025 when a couple non-shoulder injuries set him back again. He did, however, return to the mound to make 11 starts last year, posting a 3.17 FIP (3.20 ERA) with a stellar 5.4% walk rate and 32.3% strikeout rate. But he broke down again late in the season and wasn't available for the postseason as the Brewers were short on starting pitching.

      One of the concerns with Woodruff potentially getting hurt again if he pitches in the World Series was the Brewers' ability to replace him on the roster. Players who get hurt during the postseason are typically eligible to be replaced, but there is a clause about preexisting injuries and a player being removed from a roster. Replacements must be approved by MLB and preexisting injuries have not always been approved when a player gets reinjured and MLB had indicated to the Brewers that it would not allow a substitute should Woodruff get hurt.

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      A post shared by Milwaukee Brewers (@brewers)

      Woodruff is a two-time All-Star who finished fifth in the 2021 NL Cy Young Award voting.

      Meanwhile, the Rays made one roster change, bringing left-handed reliever Garrett Cleavinger back to the roster, replacing rookie right-hander Brody Hopkins.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      After staving off one front-office defection, the Milwaukee Brewers have lost a different key member of the Ivory Tower.

      Cam Castro, the Brewers' senior vice president for player development and performance, has been hired by the A's as general manager, according to a report Wednesday by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Castro is second in command to Taylor Smith, recently hired away from the Boston Red Sox to be the A's president of baseball operations. Castro has been integral in the Brewers developing pitchers in recent years.

      Castro had been with the Brewers since 2019 as pitching coach of the then-High-A Carolina Mudcats. He started his climb through the organization as the minor-league pitching coordinator in 2020 and 2021, then getting a promotion to director of pitching development following the 2021 season. He would get another bump in July 2022 to vice president of player development, then rising to his current position in October 2024.

      The Brewers had a starting rotation this season that was filled with rookies and one second-year player, probable NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski, while also having one of the better-known pitching labs in MLB to aid in bringing along young pitchers.

      Late last week, assistant general manager Matt Kleine was the favorite for the Houston Astros' general manager position, but that job went to Randy Flores, who was with the St. Louis Cardinals at the time. An apparent sticking point in negotiations was Kleine wanting the title of president of baseball operations, while owner Jim Crane wanted it to be GM.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Despite a weekend scare, Jackson Chourio is also returning to the Milwaukee Brewers' offense.

      Chourio, an outfielder, and first baseman Andrew Vaughn were activated from the 10-day injured list Monday and were in the lineup for Monday's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals. Outfielder Blake Perkins was optioned to Triple-A Nashville and outfielder Greg Jones was designated for assignment to make room on the 26-man roster. Also, right-handed starter Quinn Priester was pulled from his rehab assignment while still remaining on the 15-day IL. The return of Chourio and Vaughn, who hit in the top half of the batting order, is a much-needed boost for an offense that has been missing a spark.

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      — Milwaukee Brewers (@brewersbot.bsky.social) May 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM

      Chourio was a surprising IL placement on Opening Day. He sustained a fractured left hand while playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, but the injury didn't appear to bother him as he continued to play after sitting out two games. The injury popped up during the Brewers' final exhibition games just days before Opening Day.

      Chourio then fouled a ball off his left ankle Saturday during a rehab assignment game for Nashville, which put his expected return Monday in doubt. But he went through running drills and was deemed fit enough to be activated.

      Vaughn joined Chourio on a rehab assignment last week as he recovered from hamate surgery in his left hand.

      Perkins was returned to Nashville, where he started the season. The defensive-minded center fielder has been the odd man out with a healthy Garrett Mitchell able to patrol center field and the emergence of Brandon Lockridge. But the switch-hitting Perkins mustered a measly .109/.212/.174 slash line in 19 games.

      Jones was a minor-league free-agent signing this offseason and appeared in 11 games since coming up April 14. He also struggled at the plate, going 2-for-21 (.095). If he passes through waivers, he could return to Nashville.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Despite a bout of wildness in his last MLB start, the Milwaukee Brewers are giving Robert Gasser another shot.

      The Brewers on Wednesday called up the left-hander from Triple-A Nashville to start Wednesday's game against the San Francisco Giants. To make room on the 26-man roster, the Brewers placed left-handed reliever Rob Zastryzny on the 15-day injured list with a strained left trapezius.

      Gasser has made two starts for the Brewers this season, the last one coming May 23 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gasser walked four and gave up four runs in 4⅓ innings in an 11-3 loss. He was sent down the next day. Gasser walked two in four innings of his May 17 start vs. the Minnesota Twins, a 5-4 loss.

      Zastryzny had just returned Sunday from the injured list, where he had been since spring training due to a strained left shoulder. While Zastryzny didn't appear in any of the three games he was on the roster for, he is now dealing with another shoulder-related injury.

      The Brewers also have announced that right-hander Coleman Crow will start Thursday's finale against the Giants.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The return of Brandon Woodruff is official.

      The Milwaukee Brewers on Monday activated the right-hander to start the series opener against the Cincinnati Reds. Left-handed reliever Drew Rom was optioned to Triple-A Nashville. Woodruff has been on the 15-day injured list since May 1 due to right shoulder inflammation.

      The 33-year-old veteran, the oldest player on a very young starting rotation, will be making his seventh start of the season. In the prior six, he has logged 30 innings with seven walks and 25 strikeouts. Woodruff is four strikeouts away from 900 for his career.

      Rom was called up June 6 and made four appearances, going 5⅓ innings with a 3.38 ERA with four walks and 10 strikeouts.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      A recent addition to the Milwaukee Brewers' bullpen has been sidelined for at least two weeks.

      Right-handed reliever Joel Kuhnel was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday by the Brewers due to a right shoulder impingement. Right-handed reliever Craig Yoho was called up from Triple-A Nashville. Also, right-handed starter Coleman Crow, on the 15-day IL with a strained right forearm flexor, began a rehab assignment at Nashville on Saturday.

      Kuhnel, acquired June 6 from the A's after he was designated for assignment, has appeared in 10 games for the Brewers and posted a 6.52 ERA over 9⅔ innings. He has walked six and struck out eight while allowing a .317 opponent batting average, including four home runs. Kuhnel's last game was Thursday in the series finale against the Cincinnati Reds in which he gave up three runs (two earned) on one hit and two walks with a strikeout in one inning.

      Yoho is up with the Crew for the third time this year. He has pitched six innings over five games, giving up four runs on five hits, including two homers, with three walks and eight strikeouts for 6.00 ERA.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      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.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

       

      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.

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Milwaukee Brewers' look at Lance McCullers Jr. lasted just two games.

      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.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      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.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      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.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

       

      It won't be a bullpen day after all.

      Left-handed starter Robert Gasser was called up Sunday by the Milwaukee Brewers from Triple-A Nashville and will start the series finale against the Minnesota Twins. Right-hander Peter Strzelecki was designated for assignment, leaving the Crew's 40-man roster at 39.

      Gasser will be making his first appearance with the Brewers this season. He dealt with arm soreness during spring training, which set him back slightly, and then into the regular season at Triple-A after not making the Opening Day roster.

      But Gasser has now made six starts and pitched 21⅔ innings at Nashville, putting up a 3.74 ERA with eight walks and 32 strikeouts. He made two abbreviated starts for the Brewers at the end of the 2025 season in his comeback from Tommy John surgery and was on the postseason roster.

      Strzelecki was called up Saturday when right-hander Coleman Crow was optioned back to Triple-A following Friday's spot start. Strzelecki didn't pitch in Saturday's game.

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

      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.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Easton McGee was the casualty when the Milwaukee Brewers made a last-minute trade for fellow right-handed reliever Jake Woodford with the Tampa Bay Rays. Woodford took the last bullpen spot on the Crew's Opening Day roster, with McGee sent to Triple-A Nashville.

      Now, McGee gets to join Woodford in the Brewers' bullpen. The Brewers called up McGee from Nashville to fill the spot vacated by left-handed starter Shane Drohan, who was optioned Thursday to Triple-A after making his MLB debut Wednesday.

      McGee made nine appearances for the Crew in 2025, with a 3.27 FIP (5.52 ERA), striking out 13 and walking five in 14⅔ innings. In four appearances for Nashville this year, McGee has a 9.53 ERA with three walks and five strikeouts in 5⅔ innings.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Luis Matos experiment is over. It is now Tyler Black's opportunity.

      The Milwaukee Brewers called up Black, a first baseman, and left-hander Shane Drohan from Triple-A Nashville on Friday. Matos, an outfielder, was designated for assignment for the second time this season, while right-hander Carlos Rodriguez was optioned to Triple-A.

      The 25-year-old Black was one of the Crew's top hitters during spring training, posting a crazy .550/.522/1.000 slash line with one homer and 14 RBIs in six Cactus League games. The trouble for Black, who is known for his bat and not his glove with a .270/.399/.441 career minor-league slash line, is hitting when given the chance at the MLB level.

      In 23 games with the Brewers, Black has a .211/.357/.263 slash line with no homers and three RBIs over 70 plate appearances. At Nashville this season, Black has a .282/.378/.410 slash line with one homer and six RBIs.

      The addition of Black, a left-handed hitter like Jake Bauers, could mean that Bauers sees more time in left field with Black getting chances at first base. The Brewers have been looking for ways to get more out of their offense with three starting position players, outfielder Jackson Chourio, designated hitter Christian Yelich and first baseman Andrew Vaughn, on the injured list and this could be a way. This is Black's first call-up this season after not making the Opening Day roster due to the presence of Bauers and Vaughn at first base.

      Matos was a possible solution for a bit of offense when Chourio began the season on the IL. The Brewers picked Matos up in a March 30 trade after he was DFA'd by the San Francisco Giants after not making the Opening Day roster there. But in nine games with the Crew, Matos had a slash line of .200/.238/.200 with no homers or RBIs and seven strikeouts in 20 at-bats. If Matos goes unclaimed on the waiver wire, he could be assigned to Nashville or released.

      Drohan is back for his second stint with the Brewers after getting a spot start April 8 vs. the Boston Red Sox, his previous team. Acquired in the six-player Caleb Durbin trade, Drohan lasted just 2⅔ innings, allowing three hits and four walks with two strikeouts. Barring a rotation move, Drohan is likely to fill Rodriguez's spot as a long man out of the bullpen.

      Rodriguez did well in his two relief appearances since being called up last weekend. He pitched two innings in mopup duty against the Miami Marlins on Sunday and the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits and no walks with five strikeouts.

       

      Steve Drumwright

      A pretty good overall outing that had a clunker of an ending ended the regular season for left-hander Colton Gordon.

      Gordon was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday by the Brewers, who selected the contract of right-hander Lyon Richardson from Nashville. With the Triple-A season over and Gordon going five innings in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, it is unlikely he returns unless an injury prompts an activation for Sunday's regular-season finale. The Brewers had an opening on their 40-man roster to accommodate Richardson.

      Gordon, acquired from the Houston Astros in the Lance McCullers Jr. trade on July 15, made his Brewers debut and was having a very good game before the Phillies scored three runs (two earned) off him, with the help of a bad break, in the bottom of the eighth to snap a 3-3 tie. Gordon had not allowed a hit in his first four innings, then gave up four straight in the eighth. He walked one and struck out one.

      Richardson is back for his second stint with the Brewers this year. Signed as a minor-league free agent after being designated for assignment by the Cincinnati Reds in early June, Richardson pitched 1⅔ hitless innings vs. the San Diego Padres in his only Brewers appearance Aug. 10, walking one and striking out one. He was DFA'd by the Brewers (he is out of minor-league options) and remained in the organization.

       

      Steve Drumwright

      Shane Drohan's first stint in MLB didn't figure to be a long one—and it wasn't.

      The Milwaukee Brewers' left-handed starter, who made his MLB debut Wednesday, was sent back to Triple-A Nashville, MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reported Thursday. The Crew will have to make a corresponding move before opening this weekend's series vs. the Washington Nationals on Friday.

      Drohan's debut did not go well. Facing the Boston Red Sox, the team that traded him to the Brewers in the Caleb Durbin deal this spring, at Fenway Park, Dohan lasted just 2⅔ innings, walking four and allowing three runs and three hits while striking out two. Drohan made the spot start due to the doubleheader Saturday against the Kansas City Royals following Friday's rainout.

      Right-hander Chad Patrick was originally scheduled to start Wednesday, but that would have come on short rest. Patrick, who started the opener of the doubleheader, will start Friday against Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin.

      As for possible call-ups, right-hander Craig Yoho could be a candidate. Yoho is on the 15-day injured list with a strained right calf and is eligible to be activated. His stay on the IL, which began March 22, was projected to be a short one.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Milwaukee Brewers picked up some bullpen depth Saturday by trading for Athletics right-hander Joel Kuhnel in exchange for cash. Kuhnel was with the Brewers twice in 2024, but did not appear in a game.

      To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed starter Quinn Priester was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL. Priester, who has been on the IL since March 25, is currently on a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League.

      The 31-year-old Kuhnel was designated for assignment by the A's on Friday. The Brewers open a three-game series against the A's in Las Vegas on Monday. A move regarding the Brewers' 26-man roster will need to be made as Kuhnel is out of minor-league options.

      Kuhnel last pitched for the A's on Thursday, giving up four runs on five hits in two-thirds of an inning. For the season, Kuhnel has a 3.97 FIP (4.21 ERA) in 25 games and 25⅔ innings, with four saves and four holds. He has a terrific 5.6% walk rate but a below-average 13% strikeout rate. He had allowed seven runs in his last four outings.

      Kuhnel spent 2025 in the minors with the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies. He was with four organizations, including the Brewers, in 2024.

       

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