Brewers News: SP Adrian Houser Leaves Sunday's Start with Injury, Could Miss Time

The Milwaukee Brewers were oh so close to having their starting rotation fully healthy once again. Instead, they'll be down another starter, at least for the time being.

Right-hander Adrian Houser made his 17th start of the season against the Padres on Sunday and it began a bit on the rocky side. He allowed San Diego to jump out to a quick 4-1 lead through the first inning and a half of the game on the back of a run-scoring double play and two Padre homers.

Then, when the third inning began, it was Bryse Wilson who took the mound and delivered a very important four innings for the Crew, helping them to an eventual comeback win and series sweep. Houser's day was over after just two innings and the four runs given up.

Many assumed that with such a short outing that Houser must have suffered some type of injury. Those fans would be correct, which leads to the next question of whether the righty will miss any of his upcoming starts.

Brewers starter Adrian Houser was pulled from his start on Sunday with an elbow injury and it sounds like he could miss a little time.

Of course, any time an injury to a pitcher's elbow on his throwing arm is mentioned, thoughts can go straight to the worst case scenario of a UCL injury. Well, Brewers fans can stop holding their breaths because manager Craig Counsell stated that there is no ligament injury for Houser, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

According to Houser, he felt the swelling in the elbow in pretty much the entirety of the second inning when it just wouldn't loosen up and allow him to get extended. But the 30-year-old doesn't seem to be too concerned and expects to just be down for a couple days. Regardless, his status for his next start appears to be up in the air.

Houser has already had to fight off injury once this season having started the season on the injured list with groin tightness. But shortly after making his season debut, he was thrust into a rotation role with the team attempting to navigate through some injuries to the unit for the second straight year.

He has held up respectably in that role, having gone 5-4 with a 4.75 ERA and 1.488 WHIP as a starter in 2023. Prior to Sunday's short start, the Brewers had won three of Houser's four August starts and he had a 3.80 ERA for the month while holding opposing batters to a .235 average.

Should Houser need to miss a start, Milwaukee's schedule lines up favorably for him to do so. After a three-game road series against the Cubs that starts today, the team has a day off on Thursday that they can use to allow Houser that extra rest. They also have starter Julio Teheran rehabbing in the minors and will hopefully be able to add him to the mix soon.

All that matters is that Houser's injury wasn't significantly more serious. It might still result in a trip to the IL, but even if it does it seems like the Brewers may have dodged a bullet on this one.