Steve Drumwright

The reward for saving the rest of the bullpen Saturday? A one-way ticket to Nashville. The Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday optioned right-hander Carlos Rodriguez to Triple-A Nashville and activated left-handed reliever Rob Zastryzny from the 60-day injured list. Zastryzny has been on the IL since the end of spring training with a strained left shoulder. Left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room for Zastryzny on the 40-man roster. Zerpa is out for the season after having Tommy John surgery a few weeks ago. Rodriguez pitched 3⅓ innings in Saturday's 9-2 loss to the Houston Astros, coming within an out of finishing the game. He did allow three runs. Rodriguez has been much better for the Brewers this season, with two of his previous three bullpen appearances being shutout efforts. Zastryzny gives the Brewers four left-handers in the bullpen, joining Aaron Ashby, DL Hall and Shane Drohan. Zastryzny is coming off a 2025 in which he posted a 2.45 ERA in 26 appearances over 22 innings. He walked 10 and struck out 20.

Emotion has gotten the best of Milwaukee Brewers reliever Abner Uribe before. Now, he is paying a small price for a move he made following an inning-ending strikeout. Uribe was suspended by MLB for one game for his wrestling-style crotch-grabbing move toward the St. Louis Cardinals' dugout following Tuesday's 6-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Uribe made the gesture following his strikeout of Alec Burleson. Uribe is appealing the penalty, which allows him to play until it is heard by MLB. Following the game, Uribe, after a dugout scolding by Brewers manager Pat Murphy, apologized to the team, but leveled accusations at Cardinals manager Oli Marmol. Marmol and the Brewers addressed further issues the next day that apparently led to Uribe's action. Uribe has alternated with right-hander Trevor Megill as the Brewers' closer and eighth-inning guy. Uribe has appeared in 21 games, with a 4.19 ERA over 19⅓ innings, walking eight and striking out 21. He has converted five of seven save opportunities, while Megill has six saves in seven chances.

Coming off his best start of the season, it will be at least another two weeks before Logan Henderson takes the mound again. The Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday placed Henderson, a right-handed starter, on the 15-day injured list with a strained lower back and called up right-handed starter Coleman Crow. Last week against the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, Henderson struck out seven over five shutout innings, allowing two hits and walking three. He has allowed two runs or less in all five of his starts, including just one in that start before facing the Dodgers. That was another five-inning, seven-strikeout performance. Henderson has a 6.7% walk rate and 33.3% strikeout rate in 23 innings this year. Crow won't start Wednesday's series finale vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, which remains vacant. Instead, the Brewers will wait to slot Crow into the rotation with Friday's series opener against the Houston Astros. Crow has done very well in his first two MLB starts this year, allowing a total of three hits over 10⅓ innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. With Henderson on the shelf, Crow could be up for multiple starts, although veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff is inching closer to a return to the rotation.

Walks will get you a ticket back to the minors. The Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday optioned left-handed starter Robert Gasser back to Triple-A Nashville and called up right-hander Carlos Rodriguez. Gasser walked four in 4⅓ innings in an 11-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. In fact, Gasser's line was littered with fours: 4⅓ IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K. This was his second start since being called up May 17, when he started against the Minnesota Twins. In that game, Gasser went four innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits, two walks and three hit batters while striking out three. Rodriguez is up for the second time. He made two relief appearances in April, allowing one run (a homer) in four innings on five hits with no walks and five strikeouts. With Gasser not in the rotation, the Brewers will need a starter, likely to come next weekend against the Houston Astros. Right-hander Coleman Crow is a likely choice.

Barring something unexpected happening, Jesus Made will sit atop the MLB prospect lists from now until he makes his MLB debut for the Milwaukee Brewers, which could very well be Opening Day 2027. And with that, comes the pressure of living up to being No. 1. Made, a 19-year-old shortstop, ascended to that lofty perch Wednesday when Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin, who was the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball when he was promoted to the majors April 3, accumulated enough at-bats (130) to lose that status. Made began the season at No. 3 on most lists and has watched as Griffin and Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle got their much-anticipated calls to the majors. That decision doesn't appear to be imminent for Made. The Brewers, while not afraid of promoting players from one level to the next during the season, don't like to rush their prospects. It is one reason they currently have the best farm system in MLB. Take outfielder Jackson Chourio, for instance. Chourio played for the Brewers in the Dominican Summer League in 2021 as a 17-year-old. He made his U.S. debut as an 18-year-old in 2022, playing 62 games for the Low-A Carolina Mudcats, then being promoted to the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for 31 games. With time left in the season, Chourio got six games with the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers. His prospect stock skyrocketed as the season progressed, putting up a combined slash line of .288/.342/.538 with 20 homers, 75 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Originally signed as a shortstop, Chourio blossomed when moved to the outfield in the DSL. Being able to play a premier position such as center field made him that much more valuable. He returned to Biloxi for much of the 2023 season, showing his dynamic potential with a .280/.336/.467 slash line. He hit 22 homers, drove in 89 and stole 43 bases. He played the final week with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, going 7-for-21 (.333). That offseason, Chourio made history by signing a record eight-year, $82 million contract extension with team options for two more years. He didn't go to Nashville for the start of 2024, instead making the team out of spring training, making his MLB debut as a 20-year-old. All he has done since is put up nearly identical slash lines: 2024: .275/.327/.464, 21 HRs, 79 RBIs, 22 SBs 2025: .270/.308/.463, 21 HRs, 78 RBIs, 21 SBs That is roughly the plan the Brewers have for Made. Having turned 19 this month, Made began this season at Double-A Biloxi after playing at three levels as an 18-year-old. In 2025, he went from Low-A Carolina to High-A Wisconsin and then a cameo at Biloxi, putting out a combined slash line of .285/.379/.413 with six homers and 47 stolen bases. Entering the weekend, Made had a .257/.340/.400 slash line with three homers, 20 RBIs and 15 steals in 34 games. It wouldn't be surprising to see Made promoted to Triple-A Nashville before the end of June, which would give him three months at that level. It's very unlikely he'll force his way past the several players in front of him on the depth chart to debut this season. Cooper Pratt and Jett Williams, who are No. 4 and No. 5 on Brewer Fanatic's prospect rankings, would be the better call-up choices for this year, and of course, the team has two shortstops in the majors right now, in Joey Ortiz and David Hamilton. That could always change if Made goes on a tear and leaves the Brewers with no choice, of course. But considering Made plays the most important defensive position and still has a little work to do on that side of the ball, the more experience he gets, the better. He split time the past two years with Luis Pena, Brewer Fanatic's No. 2 prospect. Most of the analysts say Made has the ability to stick at shortstop, but third base or second base could be an option, too. A switch-hitter, Made differs from Chourio in that he doesn't currently present much in terms of power, but that is something that could come as his body matures. He does appear to be an advanced hitter. Made had a 20.6% strikeout rate last year and a 12.8% walk rate, which is really good when you consider his age and that the MLB averages are 22.4% and 8.4%. Through Saturday, Made was at 16.4% for his strikeout rate and 11.3% for his walk rate this year. Baseball America has put a 70 grade (on the 20-80 scouting scale) on Made's hit tool, which means it's plus-plus. He hits to all fields with authority, due to a compact swing from both sides of the plate. It would be easy to project Made batting leadoff with Chourio second once Made gets acclimated to the majors. Remember that Chourio struggled mightily and had a .207 batting average on June 1 of his rookie season before figuring things out. But Made will also have someone like Chourio to lean on whenever he does make his debut. Will his newfound status as baseball's No. 1 prospect affect how he performs on a daily basis? You wouldn't think so. The Brewers pursue players who typically have the sort of comportment that something like this wouldn't play mind games with the teenager. He will face more heckling when the Shuckers play on the road, but nothing he hasn't heard thus far as one of the game's elite prospects. Brewers fans will no doubt get impatient knowing Made is waiting in the wings, especially if Ortiz doesn't improve offensively, but the patience the Brewers are showing with their young shortstop is the same thing the fanbase needs to exercise. Made will be ready when he is ready and the Brewers will know when that time comes.

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.

It is one and done again for Coleman Crow. The Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday sent the right-handed starter back to Triple-A Nashville following a spot start Friday. Right-handed reliever Peter Strzlecki was called up from Nashville. Also, the Brewers sent right-handed starter Quinn Priester on a rehab assignment to High-A Wisconsin. This is the second time this season Crow has been called up to make one start and be sent back to the minors the next day. Both of his starts have shown that he has the staying power to remain in the Crew's rotation. But the Brewers are expected to have a bullpen game Sunday in the series finale vs. the Twins to give the starters an extra day of rest going into the big series against the Chicago Cubs. Crow, Brewer Fanatic's No. 16 prospect, on Friday allowed one run on three hits and no walks with three strikeouts over five innings in a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. His line was very similar in his MLB debut April 17 vs. the Miami Marlins. Strzlecki will be making his season debut with the Brewers and pitching for the first time in the majors since 2024 with the Cleveland Guardians. He has made 16 appearances at Nashville this year with a 4.12 ERA in 19⅔ innings. He has walked four and struck out 20. Strzlecki made his MLB debut with the Brewers in 2022, appearing in 30 games and posting a 2.83 ERA. Priester has been on the IL since March 25 with thoracic outlet syndrome in his right arm.

The Milwaukee Brewers have brought Coleman Crow back up. Now the question is: Will this be for more than one game? The right-hander was called up by the Brewers from Triple-A Nashville to start Friday's series opener against the Minnesota Twins. Left-handed reliever Brian Fitzpatrick was sent down to Nashville. Also, outfielder Akil Baddoo was sent to Nashville to begin a rehab assignment. Baddoo strained his left quad in spring training. For Crow, this will be his second start after making his MLB debut April 17 on the road against the Miami Marlins. He went 5⅓ innings, allowing two runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts. But that was a spot start and he went back down to Nashville the next day. This move could last at least a little while. Right-hander Chad Patrick was in the Opening Day rotation, but has made his last two appearances and three out of his last five out of the bullpen. Patrick proved very effective in that role in the postseason last year and still gives the Brewers some length out of the bullpen. Crow has made five starts and one relief appearance at Nashville, where he compiled a 4.70 ERA, walking 13 and striking out 34 in 30⅔ innings. Fitzpatrick also made his MLB debut with the Crew this year with very good results. Thus far, he has made four appearances out of the bullpen, covering 5⅔ innings with three walks and four strikeouts. Baddoo signed a split contract with the Brewers in the offseason after five seasons with the Detroit Tigers, where he had been a Rule 5 draft pick. He has a career .224/.305/.369 slash line, including a .259/.330/.436 mark with 13 homers, 55 RBIs and 18 steals as a rookie in 2021. But as the Tigers were infused with prospects, his playing time diminished to just seven games in the majors last year.