Milwaukee Brewers: Another starting pitcher injured?

The Milwaukee Brewers might have to send another starting pitcher to the Injured List. What happened, and who will the team turn to?

Milwaukee Brewers starter Gio Gonzalez was cruising through his start on Friday evening. He had made thrown into the seventh inning, and had only surrendered one run against the Chicago Cubs. Gonzalez struck out Javy Baez for his ninth strikeout of the evening. Gonzalez started grimacing as soon as the 89 MPH fastball hit Yasmani Grandal‘s glove. Manager Craig Counsell and the Brewers training staff came out to the mound immediately, and removed Gonzalez from the game.

Gonzalez final line was only one run allowed in 6 1/3 innings with nine K’s and only one walk allowed. He threw 93 pitches with 53 going for strikes.

What’s Gonzalez’ injury?

The announcement was that he exited the game with left shoulder tightness. However, it is believed that he avoided a serious injury and could make his next start.

What happens if he does miss his next start

On the chance that Gonzalez needs time off, the Milwaukee Brewers are in trouble. It’s not as bad as it could be since the Brewers do have an off day next week. Freddy Peralta will likely be pressed into a starting role in the next week, but after that? The team only has two healthy starters on the active roster.

Who else is hurt?

Jimmy Nelson has been working his way back on a rehab assignment after suffering through an issue with his right elbow. He’s also unlikely to start again in the Majors in 2019.

Jhoulys Chacin is out with a right lat strain, and won’t even start a rehab assignment for a few more weeks.

Milwaukee Brewers All-Star Brandon Woodruff is out for at least a month, and might not come back until early September. Woodruff is out with a left oblique strain.

The Milwaukee Brewers need to find a healthy starting pitcher. They might be able to get by for a week with a patchwork pitching staff, but they need to find a real solution to the lack of healthy starters at the highest level. It’s unclear who is going to fill in for Chacin, so hopefully Gonzalez won’t require time on the Injured List.

Most teams can absorb the loss of one starting pitcher. Two is a big ask for most teams, but the Milwaukee Brewers could have as many as four starters on the shelf by the end of the weekend. Starting pitching depth looked like a strength in April, but it’s really being tested right now. Unless a starter comes from outside the organization, or the team asks Trey Supak to make the jump from Double-A, it’s hard to find a favorable option that won’t see a drop off in talent. GM David Stearns needed to pull a rabbit out of his hat after Chacin went down. If Gonzalez needs time off, he’ll really have to work his magic to keep the team afloat.