Brewers get burned after trade deadline acquisition is ruled out for rest of season

The Milwaukee Brewers just completed a brutal scheduling stretch in which they were asked to play 19 games in 18 days. During such a stretch, while all players no doubt feel the effects of having no days off for nearly three weeks, much of the stress falls on the bullpen. Relievers are often asked to pitch on back-to-back days or four times in a week, throwing far more pitches than they otherwise would. For that stretch to come at the end of August when MLB bullpens are at their thinnest is near impossible for any team to navigate.

The Brewers managed to tread water, going 9-10 during the stretch, but their bullpen was asked to cover 80 innings during that time. Over 19 games, that's more than four innings a game covered by the Brewers' relief corps, more than any other bullpen during that span. Appearing in eight of those 19 games was Brewers' major trade deadline acquisition Shelby Miller.

Miller was just starting to settle into the Brewers' bullpen, surrendering just one earned run in his last seven outings prior to taking the mound at American Family Field in a Labor Day tilt with the Philadelphia Phillies. However, prior to recording an out, Miller felt a pop in his elbow and had to exit the game. Now, two days later, as revealed by MLB.com's Brewers beat reporter Adam McCalvy on the social media platform X, Miller's season is done after testing revealed a UCL sprain.

Brewers place Shelby Miller on 60-day IL with season-ending elbow injury, recall Joel Payamps from Triple-A

It's an absolutely devastating blow for Miller, who was in the midst of a resurgent year as an elite high-leverage reliever. After collecting 10 saves and posting a 1.98 ERA with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first half of the season, Miller became a coveted trade deadline candidate. Joining the Brewers as a back-end relief option for Pat Murphy, Miller posted a 5.59 ERA in 11 appearances, but his numbers aren't indicative of how well he pitched. Rather, a few tough outings skewed what was a fine run of appearances from Miller.

It's also an unfortunate development for the Milwaukee Brewers, whose bullpen is already shorthanded with DL Hall, Grant Anderson, and Trevor Megill already on the injured list. With a 40-man roster spot opened up by placing Miller on the 60-day IL, the Brewers are selecting the contract of Joel Payamps, who hasn't appeared in a major league game since May 21. The Brewers designated Payamps for assignment the following day, but he cleared waivers and remained with the organization.

Payamps has been pitching solidly for the Nashville Sounds down in Triple-A, posting a 4.73 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 27 appearances. Outside of one bad outing, Payamps has allowed no runs and just one hit in his last 10 appearances. In fact, blow-up outings have hurt Payamps throughout his time in Triple-A this season, but when he's on, he gives up hardly anything.

Brewers fans may not have the fondest memories of Payamps, who held an 8.35 ERA through the first two months of the season while pitching out of the big league bullpen. However, the now-31-year-old has a track record of success as a big league reliever, suggesting his underperformance on a big league mound this year is more a blip on the radar than a new norm.

With the aforementioned injured relievers on the injured list for at least another five days, Pat Murphy will likely call upon Payamps multiple times in the near future. At just 44.2 total innings between MLB and Triple-A this season, Payamps should be fresher than many other arms in the Brewers' pen.

It's a disheartening development for the Brewers, losing Miller to a season-ending injury. It continues what has been a mostly disappointing run of relief pitcher deadline acquisitions for the Crew. Murphy and company will now have to get even more creative with how they use their pitchers down the stretch, ensuring the team remains atop the standings, but their relievers remain rested.