Milwaukee Brewers: What’s the latest on the injured starters?

The Milwaukee Brewers currently have six pitchers who have started on the Injured List. Are any set to return soon?

The biggest additions the Milwaukee Brewers will make to their starting rotation won’t come from another team or free agency. With six potential starters on the Injured List, the Brewers are going to add to their starting five from within. How are the injured starters progressing, and when will the team finally add instead of subtract?

Is there any good news coming soon?

Zach Davies is expected to start on Monday. He threw bullpen sessions on August 9th and 14th, and should return against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Who won’t return to the rotation this year?

Corbin Burnes was reassigned from Triple-A to Double-A, and will work his way back as a reliever, not as a starter…at least not for the rest of 2019. Burnes’ struggles have continued in the Minors, and the Milwaukee Brewers are looking to give him a ‘reboot’ at a lower level.

Jimmy Nelson is in Triple-A rehabbing, but it looks like he’s a full-time reliever for the rest of the 2019 season. Nelson started making appearances for the San Antonio Missions on July 24th, and he’s been working exclusively out of the bullpen. The good news is that he’s put together a run of four consecutive appearances without allowing a run. He’s thrown 5 2/3 innings over that stretch and has 12 strikeouts and three walks.

How about Brent Suter

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Brent Suter wasn’t expected to do much in 2019 after requiring Tommy John surgery in the middle of the 2018 season. Suter has progressed to throwing in Triple-A, and he worked 2 2/3 innings in his most recent outing on August 15th. He gave up only one hit, allowed one walk, and struck out three. He still needs to stretch out to 90-to-100 pitches, but there’s a non-zero chance that he throws a pitch in a Major League game before the end of the 2019 season.

What about Jhoulys Chacin & Brandon Woodruff?

Brandon Woodruff‘s return would certainly give the Milwaukee Brewers a huge boost, and Jhoulys Chacin could gobble up more innings than a few of the guys that have been starting. However, the news for this pair isn’t quite as clear as it is for the rest of the starters on the mend.

Chacin was still feeling discomfort in his right lat as of August 9th, but is playing catch. He still doesn’t have a clear time table to a return. Woodruff also played catch for the first time since his injury on August 9th, but he hasn’t progressed to a Minor League rehab stint yet. He’s also without a clear time table to a return.

The Milwaukee Brewers appear to have some help on the way, but most of their injured starters have either moved to the bullpen, or are still working their way back. The team has been able to cobble a rotation together, but they could really use some reinforcements.