March 17: Myers will start the season on the IL due to an oblique strain, as expected. Manager Pat Murphy relayed the news to Hogg today, though he still seemed optimistic that it will be a brief absence, saying that a return in April “could be in play.”
March 15: The Brewers suffered what could be a brutal blow to their rotation today when right-hander Tobias Myers exited today’s game against the Angels with left oblique discomfort, as noted by Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Myers suggested to reporters after the game that the issue “seems mild,” but Hogg adds that Myers is set to undergo imaging tomorrow but is likely to require a stint on the injured list given the nature of oblique issues, which often require a month-long absence even for mild strains.
Myers, 26, enjoyed a phenomenal rookie season with the Brewers last year. A sixth-round pick by the Orioles back in 2016, he bounced through the Rays, Giants, Guardians, and White Sox organizations over the years before finally landing in Milwaukee and getting a shot at the big league level. He made the most of the opportunity, pitching his way into a rotation role and sticking there with an excellent 3.00 ERA in 138 innings of work. His peripheral numbers were slightly less rosy, with a 3.91 FIP, a 3.99 SIERA, and a 4.22 xERA all suggesting the righty is more of a mid-rotation or back-end starter than the 140 ERA+ production he offered last year might initially suggest. Even so, Myers figured to be a key piece of the Brewers this year as a stalwart of the club’s rotation.
That may now be set to change, at least for the beginning of the season. If Myers does wind up missing time, it’s a worrisome way for the club to start the 2025 campaign. Myers would join Brandon Woodruff, Aaron Ashby, DL Hall, and Robert Gasser on the injured list to open the season. While Freddy Peralta, Nestor Cortes, and Aaron Civale all appear to be healthy and on track to begin the season on time, there’s little certainty beyond that group.
MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy notes that while veteran left-hander Jose Quintana has not been ruled out for Opening Day, it’s possible the southpaw will need to spend some time in extended Spring Training before he’s ready to begin the season. Quintana, 36, signed with the Brewers earlier this month and is about a week behind the rest of the club’s healthy pitchers after getting a late start to Spring Training. The Brewers won’t necessarily need a fifth starter until April 2 against the Royals, which provides the club some flexibility as Quintana builds up to game readiness. With that being said, it does the club no favors when it comes to finding a replacement for Myers in the rotation.
Should Myers require a trip to the shelf, McCalvy suggests that left-hander Tyler Alexander or right-hander Elvin Rodriguez could be leaned on to make starts. Neither of those are particularly inspiring options for more than a spot start or two. Alexander has had some solid years as a swing man with the Tigers and Rays over the years, but his 4.60 ERA across 52 career starts leaves much to be desired. Meanwhile, Rodriguez has just 33 innings of 9.55 ERA under his belt in the majors. Other options could include non-roster invitee Bruce Zimmermann, who pitched to a 4.16 ERA in the minors for the Orioles last year, or a prospect like Jacob Misiorowski. The young righty has just 17 2/3 innings of experience at the Triple-A level, making him a less than ideal candidate to jump to the majors right away, but other prospects like Chad Patrick could be more realistic options.
Brewer fans: I know this is off topic, but what is the likelihood that Joey Ortiz will be starting at 2B fairly consistently in the first 6 weeks of the season? Thanks.
Seems like they want to give Dunn a chance at 3rd and see value in having Ortiz and Turang up the middle. As a Brewers fan, what’s your take on Misiorowski’s role this year?
To be honest, I’m a Cub fan and asked because I’m preparing for my fantasy draft lol. I had Ortiz for awhile last season. I think he’d be a good player to draft later, with a nice upside.
But Duke, I appreciate your input – and I wish the Brewers well.
Sorry I can’t opine on Misiorowski. I haven’t seen enough of him.
I’ll bet he plays 2b,ss, 3b throughout the year
Apparently, extremely high. Ortiz has been parked at 2b the last few spring training games.
There aren’t enough Fingers and toes in all of Spring Training to count all of the Oblique injuries to the baseball player throughout the Major Leagues!!!
Coming into Spring Training in excellent shape is a thing of the past !!!! When the baseball players salaries depended on them making the team out of Spring Training —- you could bet that the best players in baseball came into camp in the best physical shape any athlete could possibly be in !!!
Now —— All the best ballplayers are set for life monetarily!!! Why should they come to Spring Training in tip top physical shape???
Now a days —- if a player tears a muscle and misses the season —- because he’s out of shape —- he’s going to get paid his multi-millions anyway!!!
It’s time to put some accountability back in play!!! Being paid millions should have a consequence if the player gets injured because of lack.of fitness or preparation for the beginning of Spring Training!!!
I get your points, but for what it’s worth this guy is probably making minimum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This day and age players are in better shape coming into camp than they ever were in the history of the game. Only in the last 20 years have guys been given off season conditioning regiments. Pre 2010 ish, spring training was the off season conditioning program. The injuries we see today aren’t because guys are out of shape, but because everything in the game is max effort from swings to throwing to pitching ) mostly pitching. 15 years ago starters weren’t taught max velocity from inning 1. They are now. TJ’s, obliques, shoulders, blisters, hamstrings. They’ve all increased. The smoothness and crafty tactics are out of the game, certainly in the pitching side. Lift angle and power focus has affected the hitters, but to a lesser degree, than the injury increase among pitchers.
Anyone coming in way out of shape is rare.
It would be a mistake for him to be the regular 2B. Why mess with what works?? Turang played 2B and won the GG keep him there and tru Ortiz at short
Because Turang might win a Platinum Glove at SS too? Pat Murphry said the way they use those positions, there isn’t a ton of difference between them, but it could be something we dont see either… like does Turang have more range to help out the 3B holding the line? Does Ortiz move better to his left to help Hoskins’ limited range? It could be the way other team’s lineups are shaped, and how the Brewers plan to pitch those lineups and where they expect balls will be hit. We have no clue. Murphy said he thought Ortiz would move to SS and Turang stay at 2nd, but then they swapped and he said guys seemed more comfortable after the switch. Shrug
Tobias Myers sounds like some 19th century robber baron.
Lol
Teams should invest more in advanced biomechanical analysis and tailored training programs to improve pitcher durability.
The more and more pitchers are babied, the more and more injuries seem to occur.
Waiting for the first low-intellect sports “reporter” to blame these injuries on the pitch clock like agents were trying to use that excuse the past two years.
Pitchers aren’t being babied. They’re expected to throw harder with more spin and movement than ever before. They’re approaching the limit of what the human body is designed for.
Adding to that, current medical technology and diagnostics are far more advanced allowing for injuries to be diagnosed quickly.
Disagree. The worst thing that has happened to MLB is the massive infusion of analytics. “Throw harder with more spin” and what has that resulted in? Starting pitchers not lasting more than 5 innings, more relief pitchers being utilized(and teams complaining about their pitchers are “tired” and “overworked”, duh) and yes, more injuries.
All because analytics….just like 3-6 years ago when the “expert” analytics said it go for a 3-run homer instead of hit-and-runs and stolen bases, which led to record strikeouts and absolutely boring baseball.
Let the pitchers pitch not THROW and we can go back to 20 game winners, better bullpens and probably less pitcher injuries. Ah, but analytics….
ohmy,
You seem to be limiting your definition of “analytics” to just the last 10-20 years. They’ve been a part of baseball since the beginning, this is just the latest wave. Teams are always trying to find an edge, and this is the latest trend.
The game has been evolving for over 150 years towards, with the unfortunate consequence that it’s now more static than ever before. Efficiency and entertainment don’t necessarily go hand in hand.
HUH? The words “analytics” and “baseball” were never used in the same sentence until the past 3-7 years. Never bunting to get in scoring position was/is idiotic but “analytics” said to go for a 2 or 3 run HR.
Thankfully, managers like Pat Murphy realize that was garbage as is stolen bases increases your chances to score runs. The exact opposite of what “analytics” supposedly says to do.
They weren’t called “analytics” until recently, but statistical analysis of the game has been around a long time.
Bunting often – but not always – was a bad play. It’s still done today, just more efficiently. Stolen bases are similar. Teams are more successful than ever, partly because of the bigger bases and other rule changes, partly because teams are mostly limiting stealing to the players who are good at it.
A team could certainly do that. They would probably lose a lot of games. But it might be cheaper to just lean on 10 pitchers for 90% of the innings like they did in the 80’s. You’d see those pitchers get clobbered. But it would be fun.
This ☝
97 is a pedestrian fastball, this it the statcast effect.
What is going on with obliques this Spring? Why do they keep failing? These questions answered and more on the 6 AM news.
Baseball players’ bodies are being pushed to the limit and beyond of what they can do without breaking.
6AM news lol…Core Core Core, everything begins with the core now in Hitting and Pitching is what they’re teaching and it makes sense honestly. But the results are way more oblique strains we’re seeing than ever before.
Brewers pitchers will usually out perform their FIP because their team defense is so good. Myers is a perfect Brewers pitcher, but also a reasonably easily replaced pitcher. The Brewers will be fine. Myers will still have a decent season as one of several arms rotated through the starting staff.
It appears the brewers rsn revenue stream has stabilized, as well. Depending on the mri results would not be surprised if MKE signs somebody like Gibson.
Cubs 90-72
Brewers 84-82
Reds 78-88
Pirates 77-89
Cardinals 75-91
Isn’t March without the annual Cubs will win the division over the brewers post. Immediately, proceeded by the Cubs totally not winning the division over the brewers.
The Crew took the division by 10 games last year…. Saying the cubs will win it by six this year, where is this 16 game “flip” coming from!? Just more of the same with people and their “feelings” and their “own truths” when it’s all nothing but fantasy at best. Of course there’s only one reality/Truth and it’s Gods, and in that reality The Crew have dominated the NL central since 2018 all the while undergoing a considerable amount of roster turnover, the team is younger/better than ever. Thank God for Milwaukee Murph!!
Cubs always win the division…..in February and March…..just like last year, and the year before and the year before and they year before….
Hmmm, the Cubs play a 162 game schedule while the rest of the division plays 166? Your math skills are as bad as your prognostication ability.
#baueroutage
Can I interest the Brewers in Taijuan Walker? (we can eat some salary!)
Logan Henderson wasn’t mentioned in the story, yet it appears he might have the first and possibly best shot at replacing Myers in the rotation until Woodruff is ready or Myers returns.