Brewer Daily News for June 15th: Returns and injuries, Brewers lose late

Good morning everyone and welcome to the Saturday edition of Brewer Daily News. The Milwaukee Brewers will soon see the returns of two starting pitchers, but at the same time lost left fielder Ryan Braun to the 15-day disabled list. Secondly, the Brewers (27-39) lost to the Cincinnati Reds (41-27) in extra innings last night.

Marco Estrada, while having a down season, has been racking up the strikeouts. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

For the Brewers, left-hander Chris Narveson will be coming back soon to the team’s 25-man roster as he made his last Triple-A rehab start yesterday. The team also received good news when they learned right-hander Marco Estrada will be making his rehab starts within the next week.

However, their returns ultimately puts the team in a difficult situation as relievers have been making spot starts. Alfredo Figaro has had a few starts and picked up his first win in his last outing and Tom Gorzelanny may still be an option going forward.

"“Whether it’s Narvy, whether we decide [Tom] Gorzelanny is that guy again, but we’re going to need somebody in there,” manager Ron Roenicke said. – via Brewers.com"

On the opposite side of that, Braun finds himself on the disabled list for the first time in his seven-year career. Braun’s thumb injury has affected his swing and putting him on the DL was the team’s only option. Logan Schafer will now start for the time being in left field, with Caleb Gindl being called up to take Braun’s spot on the roster. Fortunately, Braun’s placement on the DL is retroactive to June 10, meaning he will be eligible to come back on June 25.

Moving on, the Brewers fell to the Reds last night 4-3 in 10 innings. Kyle Lohse started for Milwaukee and fared well, but did not receive a decision. Lohse pitched six innings and allowed three runs (one earned), five hits, one walk and struck out three. The bullpen was solid until Burke Badenhop gave up a walk-off home run to Jay Bruce in the 10th. Badenhop received his third loss of the season and his ERA bumped up to 3.64.

Offensively, the Brew Crew struck for 12 hits, but only managed three runs. Scooter Gennett hit his first major league home run, a solo homer, in the third inning, putting the team on the board. In the sixth, Martin Maldonado was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Aramis Ramirez. In the eighth, Maldonado hit a solo home run, his third of the year.

Today the Brewers play in game two of the series against the Reds at 4:10 p.m. ET / 3:10 p.m. CT. The projected starters are Yovani Gallardo (5-6, 4.74 ERA) for Milwaukee and Homer Bailey (4-4, 3.87 ERA) for Cincinnati.