Brewers surprisingly demote high-leverage reliever in flurry of roster moves

The Milwaukee Brewers made a flurry of roster moves ahead of Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals, including a demotion for a reliever who was considered an All-Star candidate earlier in the season.

Lefty Hoby Milner was activated from the IL, where he'd been since August 8th with a shoulder impingement and righty Elvis Peguero was recalled from Triple-A Nashville.

In order to make roster space for those two additions, the Brewers placed Bryse Wilson on the IL with a right oblique strain and optioned high leverage lefty Bryan Hudson to Triple-A Nashville.

Bryan Hudson sent down to minors as Brewers bullpen gets shuffled

Hudson has been a high leverage reliever for manager Pat Murphy most of the season. He's been unscored upon in his last four outings and has a stellar 1.73 ERA on the season. Based on Hudson's performance, there doesn't appear to be much reason for him to be demoted.

However, Murphy has said in the past that the team will have to utilize minor league options in order to make the roster math work. That kind of flexibility is seeming to be playing out here as Hudson, in his first full season in the majors, has options remaining while a veteran like Hoby Milner does not have any options left.

Hudson has been worked a lot this year, and this option should give the Brewers a chance to manage his workload and make sure he's good to go for the postseason while also giving Milner a chance to get himself back on track in time for October. Provided Hudson stays in the minors for fewer than 20 days, which seems likely, then he wouldn't burn an option year.

Bryse Wilson has filled a number of roles on the Brewers pitching staff this year, from starter to bulk reliever, to late inning arm. He most recently pitched 3.2 innings on Sunday in the finale against the Reds. An oblique strain can take quite a bit of time to return from, but a timetable for Wilson was not immediately available.

Peguero was optioned to the minors on August 19th. He has struggled with inherited runners this year, allowing 15 of 24 to score, but largely pitched well down in Triple-A. His return gives the Brewers another right-hander in the pen they can turn to with Wilson down.

The Brewers are finally getting their pitching staff healthier, which is great, but it leads to roster logjams like this where a high performing reliever like Hudson gets optioned down to the minors.