Brewers' flame-throwing reliever returns just in time for showdown with Cubs

The Milwaukee Brewers begin a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field tonight, and they will do so with Abner Uribe back in their bullpen.

Uribe was placed on the IL back on August 14 (retroactive to August 11), due to a right forearm flexor strain. Shortly after Uribe landed on the IL, the injury, which is a scary one for pitchers seeing as forearm injuries can be precursors to elbow issues, was thankfully revealed to be a minor strain offering Brewers' fans encouragement that their team wouldn't be without its flame-throwing set-up man for an extended period of time.

It ended up being a 19-day stint on the injured list for Uribe, just four days more than the minimum stay. As officially announced by the Brewers just moments ago, Uribe has been reinstated and right-hander Bryse Wilson has been placed on the 15-day IL with a lower back strain.

Bryse Wilson lands on 15-day IL with lower back strain in corresponding roster move for Abner Uribe's return

Uribe returning for tonight's series opener was revealed by manager Pat Murphy on Saturday evening. The 26-year-old Uribe looked like himself in his two rehab outings with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and after bouncing back well from his Friday appearance in Appleton, there was nothing stopping the elite eighth-inning man, who has a 2.05 ERA in 48 appearances this year, from rejoining the Brewers' bullpen for their four-game showdown with the Chicago Cubs.

What wasn't revealed, however, was who Uribe would be replacing on the Brewers' roster when his anticipated return arrived. The Brewers appeared to have two options when it came to opening a roster spot for Uribe: designating long-reliever Bryse Wilson for assignment or optioning Grant Anderson to Triple-A. Typically, the Brewers like to preserve organizational depth when possible, so a demotion for Anderson felt more likely. However, on Sunday afternoon the Brewers' decision was made for them.

During his eight-out appearance against the Rangers on Sunday, Wilson was visited by the athletic trainers and Murphy as he appeared to be fighting some discomfort on the mound. Wilson stayed in the game, but it's now apparent that he was fighting a lower back strain, which has since landed him on the IL. There's never a good time to land on the injured list, but this timing is better than most. The Brewers were facing a difficult decision, one which could have led to Wilson being designated for assignment, but the injury keeps him in the organization as he rehabs the back strain.

Wilson has been excellent in a Brewers uniform this year, with a 2.55 ERA in 24.2 innings to prove it. His ability to efficiently cover innings in low-leverage situations has saved the Brewers' bullpen on several occasions. Now, the Brewers will have the option of returning him to their bullpen later this month should his back strain prove not to be anything major.

Meanwhile, Uribe's return restores the Brewers' lethal one-two punch at the back-end of their bullpen. Paired with Aaron Ashby's return to dominance, the Brewers sport one of the best high-leverage trios in baseball, which will now be at full strength for their key stretch of seven games in 10 days against their arch rivals, the Cubs.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow