TL Schwerz

With Major League Baseball getting back in full swing following the All-Star Break, Milwaukee didn’t take long to make noise. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported the Brewers have signed reliever Jake McGee to a major league deal. The club also activated outfielder Tyron Taylor off the injured list. Jake McGree was recently released by the San Francisco Giants. After posting a 2.72 ERA last season for San Francisco, McGee had tallied a 7.17 mark across 21 1/3 innings this season. Although the FIP isn’t horrible at 4.14, McGee’s stuff clearly is lacking the same effect. Posting an 8.7 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 a year ago, McGee owns just a 4.6 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 this season. The hope for Milwaukee would be that he can slot somewhere into middle relief, with both Josh Hader and Devin Williams already accounting for the high leverage innings. If McGee can be sorted out by the Brewers, they then extend the overall ability of their bullpen and get someone with previous big-game experience. Tyrone Taylor returns to the lineup after being out since July 1. Playing 62 games for the Brewers this year, Taylor owns a .228/.277/.423 slash line. The power he broke out with last season has remained, but it’s come at the cost of plate discipline. Taylor’s tumbling on-base percentage is punctuated by a 52/12 K/BB. The Brewers start the second half up by just a half-game in the NL Central. Still without key pitching arms, Milwaukee will try to hold serve and continue looking toward better health. View full article

Although Major League Baseball games aren’t currently being played, the action never stops. Today the Milwaukee Brewers lost left-handed pitcher Angel Perdomo on waivers to the Tampa Bay Rays. Angel Perdomo debuted in 2020 with Milwaukee and pitched in three games that season. Last year he worked 17 innings across 19 games. The 6.35 ERA was a reflection of too many free passes combined with untimely home runs. Perdomo did post a 14.8 K/9 however, so there’s definitely strikeout stuff to work with. This season Perdomo split just 4 1/3 innings between Triple-A Nashville and the Arizona Complex League. The eight strikeouts were again reflective of an arm that could get the ball by hitters, but unfortunate he also issued six walks in that timeframe and it was clear the command just didn’t warrant a current 40-man spot. Tampa Bay is notorious for taking players off the scrap heap and turning them into something. That would be surprising with Perdomo’s peripherals, but the strikeouts are certainly exciting to dream upon. View full article

In 2019 a 22-year-old Keston Hiura looked like a future fixture up the middle for the Milwaukee Brewers. Fast forward to 2022 and he’s been optioned for the second time this season. The Crew selected the contract of pitcher Connor Sadzeck to take a spot on the 26-man roster. Milwaukee has used Keston Hiura as a part time player since he was last recalled in mid-May. Over the span of 28 games since his last promotion, Hiura owed an .855 OPS. His stints at Triple-A have been brief, playing just five games total for Nashville this season, but he’s crushed the baseball there. After an impressive debut season, Hiura has really hit the skids for the Brewers. The past two seasons have seen him post a combined .640 OPS across 120 games and work his way out of favor at the big league level. This season has gone well, however, as Hiura owns an .805 OPS and 127 OPS+ through 43 games. The Brewers made the move prior to yesterday’s game against the Minnesota Twins as they found themselves shorthanded in the bullpen. Right-handed pitcher Connor Sadzeck was selected. He’s a hard throwing reliever who last appeared in the majors with the Seattle Mariners during the 2019 season. Sadzeck has been dominant for Nashville this season owning a 0.96 ERA across 28 innings. There’s potential for Sadzeck to work his way into a long-term bullpen role, but you’d also have to hope Hiura isn’t down long. View full article

The Milwaukee Brewers activated Hunter Renfroe from the injured list prior to Tuesday's tilt against the Minnesota Twins. In order to make room for him on the 26-man roster Milwaukee designated starting pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez for assignment. Hunter Renfroe last played for the Milwaukee Brewers on June 22nd. He was placed on the injured list with a calf strain. Renfroe is in his first year with the Brewers after spending last season with the Boston Red Sox. Renfroe's .789 OPS is down a bit from where he was last season, but the 119 OPS+ is just one point shy of the career high he put up with the San Diego Padres in 2018. Chi Chi Gonzalez was claimed off of waivers from the Minnesota Twins. He pitched just seven innings for Minnesota across two separate starts. With Milwaukee, Gonzalez made four appearances, including two starts, in which he pitched a total of 11 innings. Gonzalez owns a 6.87 ERA on the year and hasn't found the stuff to stick at the Major League level. Although Milwaukee needs pitching help with so much of the starting rotation unavailable, getting a bat back in the form of Renfroe is a nice boost to the lineup. Renfroe is batting 8th and playing centerfield tonight for the Brewers. View full article

Today Major League Baseball announced that San Francisco Giants starter Carlos Rodon would replaced Milwaukee Brewers closer Josh Hader on the National League All-Star team. The reason given is that Hader will spend the time with family instead. Josh Hader last pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers on July 8. He has been among the best relievers in baseball this season and sports a ridiculous 1.88 ERA across 30 appearances. His 26 saves lead the league and if there's a deserving closer for an All-Star game it's Hader. Unfortunately for the Brewers star, Hader has dealt with multiple family issues and complications relating to the pregnancy of his first child. Complications with the pregnancy have impacted his wife, and their child, who was just born. Hader previously took a leave from the team at the end of May. MLB's original statement apparently had an error as it relates to Hader. He will not miss the series against the Minnesota Twins or any other games before the All-Star break. Instead, he will simply miss the All-Star Game due to family responsibilities. Hader addressed the media and skipping the All-Star Game on Tuesday. View full article

Although most fans were reveling in the long weekend and taking part in Fourth of July activities, the Milwaukee Brewers kicked off a busy few days of transactions starting on Friday. Six total moves impacted the mound and lineup, moving plenty of players around. On Friday the first move came when right-handed pitcher Adrian Houser was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right flexor strain. Houser has made 15 starts this season for Milwaukee and has followed up a 2021 in which he established himself as a consistent part of the starting rotation. Replacing Houser on the active roster was right-handed pitcher Trevor Kelley. Kelley’s activation from Triple-A Nashville didn’t last long however, as left-handed pitcher Aaron Ashby was reinstated from the injured list on Saturday. Ashby last pitched on June 16 and has logged nearly 60 innings while pitching in both a starting and relief role. He made the start on Saturday going 3 2/3 innings allowing four runs on five hits while striking out six. Sunday saw The Crew sending outfielder Tyrone Taylor to the seven-day injured list with a concussion, retroactive to Saturday. Taylor has posted a .700 OPS across more than 200 at-bats this season. Catcher Pedro Severino was activated following a suspension for PEDs that he was handed prior to Opening Day of the 2022 season. This is Severino’s first season in Milwaukee, and he’s coming off a .690 OPS with the Baltimore Orioles last season. His 11 home runs were the second most in a single-season of his career, trailing only the 13 he hit with Baltimore in 2019. View full article

The Milwaukee Brewers have been without a few key players for the past couple of weeks and today they get two back on the active roster. Both starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff and second basemen Kolten Wong have been returned from the injured list. Brandon Woodruff last pitched for Milwaukee on May 27 and hit the injured list with a right ankle sprain. His departure coupled with that of Freddy Peralta has put the starting staff in a bing. Woodruff returns to the big leagues sporting a 4.74 ERA through his first nine starts. Woodruff is dealing with Raynaud's Syndrome, a circulatory issue that causes numbness in extremities, particularly fingers. After successfully making two minor league rehab starts, he has been deemed ready to return to the Milwaukee rotation. Milwaukee will certainly be hoping to have their Cy Young candidate back when Woodruff settles in, and the 3.82 FIP suggests there’s better production to be had. Woodruff has been burned a bit by the longball this season, but has remained consistent with dominant strikeout numbers. Right-handed pitcher Trevor Kelley was optioned to Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move. It appeared likely that Kolten Wong would return today after Milwaukee optioned third basemen Pablo Reyes to Triple-A yesterday. Wong was placed on the injured list with a right calf strain retroactive to June 8. He has a .709 OPS for The Crew across 52 games this season. View full article

The Milwaukee Brewers have dealt with a handful of injuries over the past few weeks that have left the active roster in flux. Over the weekend they got some good news as contributors returned after rehab stints. Mike Brosseau, Trevor Gott, and Jandel Gustave all returned in the past few days. Milwaukee had been without Mike Brosseau since June 1. He has primarily played on the left side of the infield for the Brewers, and his absence was notable given the career year he’s currently experiencing. Through 32 games for The Crew, Brosseau’s 137 OPS+ is rivaled by only a 36-game stretch with Tampa Bay in 2020. Both Jandel Gustave and Trevor Gott returning to the bullpen give Milwaukee options where they’ve had to consistently shuffle arms. Gott owns a 3.68 ERA across 22 innings this season while Gustave has posted a 4.80 ERA in 15 innings. Infielder Mark Mathias was optioned to Triple-A Nashville making room for Brosseau, while pitcher Peter Strzelecki was also optioned, and pitcher Miguel Sanchez was placed on the injured list with right UCL discomfort. The Brewers did add third basemen Pablo Reyes from Triple-A Nashville, but they hope to have Kolten Wong back soon as he was sent on a rehab assignment to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. View full article

On Thursday the Milwaukee Brewers added some infield depth and got some good news on one of their top starting pitchers. Dealing with the Baltimore Orioles, infielder Patrick Dorrian was added to the organization. Brandon Woodruff also continues a rehab assignment, ticketed for a start with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Brandon Woodruff last pitched for the Brewers on May 27 and hit the Injured List with a right ankle sprain. He pitched last week for Triple-A Nashville and worked 2 2/3 innings giving up one run on two hits and striking out seven. Last night for the Timber Rattlers Woodruff was stretched out further working 5 innings with the exact same statistical results. He threw 65 pitches and his next start could come back in the big leagues. Wanting to find some additional infield depth, Milwaukee made a move to acquire Patrick Dorrian from the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations. Dorrian was a 12th round pick by the Atlanta Braves back in 2014. He has played 327 minor league games but yet to make a big league debut. Dorrian has a .762 OPS across his professional career. View full article

Prior to today’s action the Milwaukee Brewers announced Josh Hader has been reinstated from the restricted list while pitcher Aaron Ashby has been placed on the injured list. The great reliever returns, but Milwaukee loses another good rotation arm. Josh Hader had been on the paternity since Wednesday but was transitioned to the restricted list over the weekend and is back after spending a few extra days with his family. He has been absolutely lights out having held opponents scoreless in 20 of his 21 appearances this season. Milwaukee swept the Reds in his absence, but did drop Thursday’s tilt against the Mets in which New York scored the winning run in the bottom of the 8th inning. Milwaukee placed Aaron Ashby on the injured list retroactive to June 17. He winds up there with left elbow inflammation, which is never a positive development. Ashby left his most recent outing with the trainer, and his absence is another blow to the already depleted pitching staff. Ashby owns a 4.25 ERA in 55 innings this season. Hopefully Ashby can return to the roster sooner rather than later, but that’s up in the air with Milwaukee feeling the next to make this move. Teams had to get down to 13 pitchers on their active roster as of Monday. View full article

The Milwaukee Brewers are drawing closer to the return of pitcher Trevor Gott and infielder Mike Brosseau. Both are set to start rehab assignments with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Tuesday. Milwaukee placed Mike Brosseau on the injured list at the beginning of June with a right ankle sprain. He will have missed roughly three weeks of action by the time he is activated back to the Major League roster. With the Brewers assigning the rehab games to Single-A Wisconsin, the proximity suggests it won’t be a long length of time before either player is ready to return. Trevor Gott was placed on the injured list on June 7th, but the move was retroactive to the 6th. Gott’s injury was listed as a right groin strain and he last pitched on June 5th against the San Diego Padres. On the year Gott is sporting a 3.86 ERA across 21 innings for The Crew. Although not thought of as a relief stalwart, Gott owns a career best H/9 and BB/9 mark. Brosseau is having a career year for Milwaukee with a .798 OPS and 125 OPS+ through 31 games. Both players would be a boost to the active roster. View full article

Veteran outfielder Lorenzo Cain reached 10 years of service time while with the Milwaukee Brewers today, and despite that being a substantial milestone, it was met with him being designated for assignment. Outfielder Jonathan Davis had his contract selected from Triple-A Nashville. Lorenzo Cain signed a five-year deal with the Brewers prior to the 2018 Major League Baseball season. In the final year of that contract now, he has played in 43 games this season and posted an awful .465 OPS. Cain was a productive player in the first year with Milwaukee while earning All-Star honors and finishing seventh in the National League MVP voting. He won a Gold Glove in 2019 despite being below average offensively. After opting out of most of the 2020 season for family reasons, and he did put up a solid enough year in 2021, posting a 729 OPS. But he has fallen off a cliff at 36 in 2022. Replaced now by Jonathan Davis, Cain’s run in Milwaukee is over and he’ll likely go through waivers unclaimed. Another team could look to the veteran as a clubhouse presence, but it’s clear he offers little on the field at this stage. Davis has played 134 games at the Major League level split between Toronto and New York. At age 30, he has an .834 OPS with Nashville this season, and he’s flashed a strong ability to steal bases swiping 11 in 12 tries. It’s the end of an era for a former star in Milwaukee, and it may be the end of the line when it comes to his career as well. Nice of the Brew Crew to allow Cain an opportunity to reach the 10 year threshold, and something very few players can claim. View full article