MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy relayed a series of significant updates regarding injured Brewers players this morning. Most encouragingly, the Brewers expect to welcome both infielder Luis Urias and shortstop Willy Adames back from the injured list this week.
Urias, who suffered a hamstring strain on Opening Day and hasn’t played since, is expected to rejoin the club on Tuesday as they begin a homestand against the Orioles. Acquired in the trade that sent Trent Grisham to San Diego prior to the 2020 season, Urias has been a key piece of the club’s infield picture for several seasons now, particularly since his offensive breakout in 2021. Since the beginning of the 2021 season, Urias has slashed a solid .243/.339/.424 (111 wRC+) with a 20.6% strikeout rate and a 10.8% walk rate in 1,046 trips to the plate.
Adames, meanwhile, has been on the 7-day concussion IL since getting struck with a foul ball in the dugout last week. McCalvy notes that the current plan is for Adames to play DH for High-A Wisconsin today before moving on to Triple-A Nashville. After two games in Nashville, Adames figures to be activated from the injured list on Thursday.
After the Brewers acquired Adames partway through the 2021 season, the then-25-year-old shortstop raked for the club in 99 games for the rest of the season, with a .285/.366/.521 slash line that was 36% better than league average by measure of wRC+. Adames followed up that performance in 2022 with a solid 109 wRC+ in 139 games, but struggled prior to his placement on the IL this season, slashing a below-average .205/.292/.384 in 51 games.
Still, the Brewers figure to be bolstered significantly by the return of their two most reliable infielders. Andruw Monasterio, Owen Miller, and Brian Anderson have all produced solid results in the infield while Urias and Adames have been on the shelf. Assuming the Brewers look to keep all three of them on the active roster even after the duo returns this week, it’s possible the club will look toward the likes of Brice Turang, Mike Brosseau, and Abraham Toro when clearing space for Adames and Urias on the active roster. Each of those three infielders (as well as both Monasterio and Miller) are optionable, leaving Milwaukee with plenty of options as they look to make roster decisions in the coming days.
While the updates on Adames and Urias are encouraging, the same unfortunately cannot be said regarding ace right-hander Brandon Woodruff. The 30-year-old righty made just two starts this season before going on the injured list with a subscapular strain in his right shoulder, which came with an initial timeline that figured to see him return later this month. McCalvy notes that Woodruff’s timetable for return has been pushed back, however, as the righty has yet to progress to throwing off a mound, leaving the Brewers to target a return around the All Star break for their ace.
The setback for Woodruff is a tough blow to the Brewers, who have since lost Wade Miley and Eric Lauer from their rotation to injuries (in addition to Aaron Ashby, who has yet to pitch this season after undergoing shoulder surgery). What’s more, Woodruff’s co-ace Corbin Burnes has had a somewhat pedestrian season to this point by his lofty standards, posting a 3.75 ERA (113 ERA+) and a 4.59 FIP across twelve starts while striking out 22.8% of batters faced.
Speaking of Lauer, the left-hander and reliever Matt Bush are both expected to head to Triple-A for rehab assignments on Tuesday. Lauer struggled mightily in nine appearances (eight starts) this season prior to going on the IL due to an impingement in his non-throwing shoulder, with a 5.48 ERA and a 6.73 FIP in 42 2/3 innings of work. Bush also struggled in nine games prior to hitting the IL with tendinitis in his right rotator cuff allowing seven runs on four homers and six walks in just 7 2/3 innings of work.
Hurry back boys.
No way Miller gets optioned…wicked avg and OPS fits nicely near the top of the lineup. Adames and Urias will be a big boost to the offence. They need some pitching reinforcements though. Send off some of their surplus OF stock to get some arms. Flip the injured Garrett Mitchell to the Tigers in a package to patch some holes. SP Lorenzen and most of the Tigers BP are pitching well, and Erod may be back in July before the deadline.
Mitchell is an excellent player with a lofty ceiling. But the Brewers would be well served in moving him for the right return since they will be looking to find space for Frelick and eventually Chourio next year. Losing G-Mitch would be tough for fans to swallow but potentially worth it for much needed arms in a win-now season.
They won’t be moving Mitchell.
I agree. He was THE spark in the early part of the season and have only barely been treading water ever since his loss. His speed on the bases with the new rules is too valuable.
good that Urias will be back just in time for the series against his brother’s Orioles!
So Urias can’t even hit at AAA you think he should help our offense. Brewers need to move on from him. He really isn’t that good.
I’m an Orioles fan
Matt Bush belongs in a labor camp for the remainder of his days.
After only a dozen or so comments like this, I’m starting to think you may have an issue with him.
Burnes started the year by giving up 10 runs in 9.1 innings over 2 starts. So maybe his averages seem “somewhat pedestrian,” and since then, he has thrown 10 starts of 2.83 era, 1.09 whip and 9k/9
They 100% need to option Brosseau. He’s only on the roster currently as a lefty masher and he can’t even do that. Add to it he’s the worst defender on the team, and…gone.
I worried about getting injured from just reading a Brewers article
Don’t put “meanwhile” in the middle of a sentence, Mr. Deeds. Start the sentence with it. How did you get hired? So many errors in your articles.
I’d love to know what compels people to correct grammar when they have no idea what they are talking about.
Are you referring to yourself? Because you are clearly the one here who has no idea what you’re talking about. Fact.
Brewers should just blow it up, not ready for Prime Time!