SATURDAY: After meeting with team doctors and getting an MRI, Anderson expects to miss four to six weeks, per McCalvy (on Twitter).
WEDNESDAY: The Brewers will put right-hander Chase Anderson on the 10-day disabled list, tweets MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. Milwaukee announced tonight that Anderson exited his start with a strained left oblique muscle that he suffered on a swing at the plate. McCalvy adds that Anderson is facing a “long absence” and notes that the righty said he felt as if he’d been stabbed in the side upon taking the swing that caused the injury.
Oblique strains often lead to an absence in the four to six week range, though there’s no word yet on the severity of the strain. While Grade 1 strains often come with that roughly month-long timetable, Cole Hamels missed upwards of eight weeks with an oblique issue this year. Tyler Skaggs was diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain back on May 1 and was given a projected recovery time of 10 to 12 weeks.
[Related: Milwaukee Brewers depth chart]
An absence of even a month for Anderson is a terrible loss for the Brewers. The 29-year-old is in the midst of a breakout season, as he’s worked to an outstanding 2.89 ERA with 8.5 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 and a 38.1 percent ground-ball rate in 90 1/3 innings this year. Acquired from the Diamondbacks alongside prospect Isan Diaz (and some of Aaron Hill‘s remaining contract) in the trade that sent Jean Segura to Arizona, Anderson avoided arbitration as a Super Two player this offseason and is earning $2.45MM in 2017. He’s controllable for another three years via arbitration.
With Anderson on the shelf, the Brewers will need to fill a spot in what’s been a surprisingly solid rotation. Right-handers Jimmy Nelson, Zach Davies, Matt Garza and Junior Guerra will remain in the starting rotation, but alternatives options Wily Peralta and Brandon Woodruff are both presently on the disabled list. Speculatively speaking, the club could try stretching lefty Josh Hader back out into a starting role, though it seems likelier that he remains in the ‘pen, with Milwaukee turning to Paolo Espino, Taylor Jungmann or another depth option from the minors.
how about Hader?
I agree. But doing that makes the bad bullpen even worse.
Hader is on an innings limit this season.
Woodruff would be the clear answer if he was not injured, hopefully he can come back right after the AS break. Otherwise Aaron Wilkerson could be a short term option but would require a spot on the 40 man roster, which I believe they are at 39.
Luckily the Brewers still have Garza! smh…
Pretty sure it’ll be Woodruff once a
Damnit. Pressed the wrong key on my phone. Woodruff would be most logical candidate but from what I’ve read, he won’t be back until after the All Star break.
good thing the all star break is only a week away
It should be hader. If counsel were smart he’d do it
Sonny Gray for Lewis Brinson and Brett Phillips sound ok? Being how ex-A’s apparently turn into HOFers (Sogard, Vogt) on the Brewers, I’d expect Gray’s pretty-decent numbers to go full Kershaw-in-his-prime in Milwaukee.
If the Brewers were legit contenders this year, that would be an awfully tempting trade. But since they’re only in year two of a rebuild, wouldn’t make sense to make a knee jerk move in response to losing Anderson. Slot Woodruff in when he comes off the DL or call up Jungmann from AAA
The way their division is playing out… the Brewers are serious contenders.
Contenders to win the division, yes. But anything beyond that, no. Not worth the risk to trade a top prospect to only lose in the NLDS. Stick with the plan, then go all in in a couple of years.
Phillips? Okay. Brinson? Absolutely no way.
That’s quite the expectation
Don’t think you’re betting a top 15(ish?) prospect plus another good one. Phillips I think is expendable. If the Brewers don’t trade Braun he’ll be in left until he moves to first eventually. Brinson and Domingo will hold the other two spots for awhile.