3 Reasons Why Pitching Prospect Robert Gasser Could be Added to the Roster Soon

Milwaukee Brewers pitching prospect Robert Gasser is running out of things to prove at Triple-A Nashville. Though he is just 24 years old, it has felt for most of this year like his big league debut is not very far away.

Gasser has spent the entire season with the Sounds and is 9-1 with a 3.85 ERA and a 1.249 WHIP. He has eight or more strikeouts in 10 of his 22 starts and leads all of Triple-A with 147 strikeouts on the season.

While Gasser has impressed plenty at Triple-A in 2023, the Brewers have been able to get by with other options in the starting rotation this season. But, there are a few reasons to believe that his addition to the roster could be right around the corner.

Here are three reasons why Brewers pitching prospect Robert Gasser could be added to the roster very soon.

Reason #1: The Brewers just opened up a spot on their 40-man roster

To add Gasser to the active roster means also clearing a spot on the 40-man roster and as the season has gone on, the decision on who to kick off the roster for these types of moves has gotten increasingly more difficult. Luckily, the Brewers made a move on Tuesday that no longer makes this an issue.

Pitcher Bennett Sousa had apparently been put on waivers by the Brewers in recent days and per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, he was claimed by the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. Thus, the 40-man roster spot that Gasser would need is officially open.

Reason #2: The Brewers will need a starting pitcher with Adrian Houser on the IL

On Sunday, right-hander Adrian Houser left his start after just two innings with some swelling in his throwing elbow. Though he and the team don't feel it's overly serious, it will still cause him to miss some time and he was ultimately placed on the injured list yesterday.

According to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Brewers plan to fill his spot in the rotation rather than skip it even with an off day coming on Thursday. It's also possible they would turn to Colin Rea, who filled in for the rotation earlier this year, but he is currently scheduled to pitch for the Sounds on Thursday and if that happens, he wouldn't be available for Houser's spot.

Starter Julio Teheran is also on a rehab assignment looking to return from the IL, but likely needs some more starts before he is ready.

Reason #3: September call-ups are just a few days away

In just three days, MLB teams can expand their rosters from 26 players to 28 for the rest of the season (not counting the playoffs). The one caveat is that the players who are added must also be on the 40-man roster.

As we mentioned earlier, the 40-man roster problem is no longer an issue with Sousa gone. So with the active roster also being able to be expanded, the Brewers wouldn't even have to decide on who to option down if they were to add Gasser to the active roster, making the decision an even easier one.

The final push to the playoffs is drawing near and every win will be important for the Brewers. Perhaps they could get another big one by letting an exciting pitching prospect make his debut.