The Brewers are planning to activate right-hander Freddy Peralta from the 60-day injured list during the club’s upcoming three-game series in Pittsburgh from August 2-4, manager Craig Counsell told reporters (including Todd Rosiak of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). Peralta hasn’t pitched in a big league game since May 22 due to a posterior strain in his throwing shoulder.
Perhaps due to this long layoff, Counsell said the Brewers hadn’t yet determined Peralta’s role when he does return. Peralta returned to the mound for a minor league rehab assignment this week, tossing two innings and 33 pitches in his first outing, and then 52 pitches over 3 1/3 innings in his second outing this past Friday. Since this is still well short of a proper starter’s workload, the Brew Crew could ease Peralta back into action in a relief capacity, or perhaps in a piggyback role or as a bulk pitcher behind an opener.
Peralta has been the most prominent pitching injury faced by Milwaukee this season, yet the club has had the depth and quality to largely withstand Peralta’s extended absence and some other IL trips for starter over the course of the year. Since Adrian Houser is still sidelined with an elbow injury, the Brewers’ rotation isn’t up to full strength just yet, but Peralta’s return will help get the team closer to its ideal starting five.
The right-hander broke out with an All-Star season in 2021, posting a 2.81 ERA over 144 1/3 innings and joining with Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff to form a dominant top three atop Milwaukee’s rotation (with Houser, Eric Lauer, and Brett Anderson also contributing mightily). While Peralta had only a 4.42 ERA over his first 38 2/3 innings of 2022, his 3.08 SIERA and Statcast numbers paint a much more favorable view of his early-season performance. Naturally, Peralta may need a couple of appearances to shake off any rust, but the Brewers are certainly hopeful that he can regain his top form down the stretch and into what the club hopes is some October baseball.
Wow! Didn’t think he would be ready to go this quickly. Go, Crew!
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I know the team and fans want Freddy back in the rotation, but with the lighter schedule and effectiveness (sometimes) of Ashby, using Peralta as a 5th-6th-7th inning guy would fill a huge hole in the pen while allowing him to build up strength. Boxberger has been human, Gott has been hit lately (despite his new haircut), and Topa and Cousins aren’t yet ready. Another shut-down arm in the pen would be huge.
I’m guessing they go back to a 6 man rotation at least a couple times through and see how that goes. Plus, Counsell is probably salivating at the thought of putting Ashby back in a bullpen role, or use him, Peralta and Suter in a L/R/L one time through the order for each, just hoping the opposing manager blows through his bench bats by the 7th inning.
Agreed Eddie. Burnes and Big Red are strikeout pitchers, so they both run up their pitch counts too quickly and struggle to get through the 6th. The other guys struggle the 3rd time through the order, so you see Counsell yanking them pretty early. I would bet they’ll let him start and use one of Ashby/Lauer/Small in that 5/6/7 spot.
As for picking up another bat before the deadline, I’m just not sure any of the likely candidates moves the needle much. The roster is already full of Gallo types, but maybe they’ll double down on the 3 outcome guys?
I like that move. Makes a lot of sense, especially coming back from the long lay off
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are looking at Jake Odorizzi.
This is even more reason for the Cardinals to go get a QUALITY starting pitcher, or two. NOT another #5 starter.
What do you think it’ll cost to get Montas from the A’s?
This is great!
The way Houser has struggled at times this year, it’s almost like we’re closer to full strength without him.
As for Freddy, no better time to plug him back in than against the Pirates I guess.
I think Houser will have no choice to be put in bullpen when he comes back. I believe Topa might be better to get sent down and keep working out of bullpen to keep him ready if anyone gets hurt if he can be optioned still 60 days left of season .