Milwaukee Brewers: How does the pitching staff look now?

The Milwaukee Brewers made a few moves on their Wednesday to shake up their pitching staff. How does the bullpen and starting rotation look after the latest changes?

A freak injury and a pair of pitchers clearing waivers caused the Milwaukee Brewers to make four moves related to their pitching staff. Jacob Barnes was pressed into duty as a starter on an emergency bullpen day, a former top prospect is back in the Majors, and a pair of veterans will stay with the team. Let’s review what happened…

Who’s hurt now?

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Chase Anderson suffered a laceration to his right middle finger that was bad enough to require a trip to the 10-day injured list. Anderson will miss at least two turns in the rotation while his finger heals. Let’s hope that he doesn’t suffer a setback or infection.

Who’s back in the Majors?

As the Milwaukee Brewers placed Anderson on the IL, they called up Corbin Burnes. Brewers managed Craig Counsell revealed that Burnes will work out of the bullpen for the immediate future. An eventual return to the rotation hasn’t been ruled out, but he’ll try to find himself in the role he succeeded in last year.

Which vets will stick around?

Both Alex Wilson and Jake Petricka cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A. At least the Milwaukee Brewers can still play reliever roulette later on in the year without looking outside of the organization. Both Wilson and Petricka showed flashes of quality, but failed to produce consistent results. Both will likely return at some point in 2019, but now they will both have to get added back onto the Brewers’ 40-man roster. They’ll still earn their full contracts, but they can’t get added back to the 25-man roster without a spot freeing up on the 40-man roster.

Will there be more moves?

Yes. The Milwaukee Brewers have nine relievers on the 25-man roster, but only four starters. The team is fine for the next four days, but a move will need to occur early next week unless another ‘bullpen day’ is scheduled.

Freddy Peralta is still on the 10-day IL, and should return on Thursday. Either Jay Jackson or Donnie Hart could end up back in San Antonio to make room for Peralta on the 25-man roster.

To recap, Anderson is injured and out for at least 10 days, Burnes is back in the Majors as a reliever, and Petricka and Wilson will stay in the organization. It’s only May 2nd and the Milwaukee Brewers are already having an active month.