Milwaukee Brewers: Why is Zach Davies still on the shelf?

Milwaukee Brewers starter Zach Davies was expected to return to the rotation after the minimum stay on the 10-day DL. Why isn’t he back yet? When will he return? Who starts in his place?

Zach Davies threw a bullpen session on Wednesday under the watchful eye of Milwaukee Brewers coaches. He left the session with his shoulder not feeling right. He’s been ruled out of this week’s series with the Colorado Rockies.

How soon can the Milwaukee Brewers count on Davies?

While the setback was downplayed, it’s still a setback. Davies doesn’t have a timetable. He could return next week or he may need more time. There’s not much to go on here.

He did hit the DL with inflammation in his right rotator cuff, but it’s possible to avoid surgery with rest. Hopefully, all Davies needs is another week or so.

Who starts in his place?

The Milwaukee Brewers will go with Brandon Woodruff on Friday, Chase Anderson on Saturday, and TBA on Sunday. The Brewers are likely to try Brent Suter and the bullpen on Sunday afternoon.

Will Woodruff stay in the rotation this time?

That really depends on him. If Woodruff tosses six scoreless in the thin Colorado air, the Milwaukee Brewers will have to give him another look in the rotation. If he gets lit up and chased before the fourth inning, he could drive straight to Colorado Springs after the game. The Brewers still have rotation depth even with Davies on the 10-day DL.

Next: Can Nate Orf win the Brewers second base job?

Davies’ injury is testing the Milwaukee Brewers depth, but they’ve managed to patchwork a rotation with a lot of help from the bullpen. As long as the Brewers relief corps is shortening games to five or six innings, the rotation should manage to sort itself out. The real question is, “How long can the bullpen continue to eat up innings that the rotation can’t?”