Two Brewers' relievers exit Thursday's series finale against Giants with apparent injuries

The Milwaukee Brewers' pitching staff was banged up heading into Thursday's series finale against the San Francisco Giants. With starters Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester, and Logan Henderson currently residing on the IL, Milwaukee was forced to turn to Robert Gasser and Coleman Crow, two starters who opened the season in Triple-A, for the third and fourth games of their series against the Giants.

However, Milwaukee's pitching injuries aren't limited to just the starting rotation -- several bullpen arms are also on the shelf. Jared Koenig continues to work back from an elbow sprain and turned in a discouraging outing in Triple-A last night, in which he walked three batters and collected just two outs. Fellow southpaw Rob Zastryzny landed back on the IL prior to Wednesday night's game with a strain of his left trap muscle. Zastryzny didn't make an appearance since being activated from the IL for the first time this season back on May 31.

Pair those injuries with the fact that the Brewers are set to play their next six games at Coors Field in Colorado and at the Las Vegas Aviators' home ballpark -- where the Brewers and Athletics are playing next week -- and things become even more daunting for the Milwaukee's short-handed pitching staff. Both ballparks are notoriously hitter-friendly and now the Brewers will presumably have to navigate the situation by tapping further into their pitching depth.

Now, things could look even more daunting for the Brewers this coming road trip as two of their relievers left Thursday afternoon's game with apparent injuries.

Brewers' pitching staff could look very thin if DL Hall, Grant Anderson land on IL

Thursday's matinee against the Giants began with a short start from Coleman Crow, who covered just 2.1 innings and allowed nine hits and six earned runs in the process. Pat Murphy turned to DL Hall to relieve Crow in the third inning, and the southpaw allowed just one hit across the next 2.1 innings.

However, with two outs in the fifth inning, Hall signaled to the dugout and Murphy, and athletic trainer Brad Epstein walked out to the mound. After a brief deliberation, Hall walked off the field and exited the game.

Murphy went with right-hander Grant Anderson to fill in for Hall. Anderson finished the fifth inning and tossed a clean sixth before coming out for the seventh frame. After allowing a leadoff single to Jung Hoo Lee, San Francisco's towering top prospect, Bryce Eldridge stepped up to the plate. Eldridge lined a 90 mph comebacker off of Anderson's right arm and the Brewers' reliever fell to the ground in pain. Murphy once again visited the mound and moments later, Anderson exited the game as well.

After the game Murphy informed the media that Hall is dealing was feeling discomfort in his left pectoral and subscapularis muscles, while Anderson is dealing with a forearm contusion. Both players will undergo further imaging to determine the severity of the injuries and a decision on each of them will be reached before the Brewers kick off their series with the Colorado Rockies tomorrow night. If one or both requires a stint on the IL, which feels likely, the Brewers' pitching staff could start to look very thin, and at an inopportune time.

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