The Brewers keep rolling, and one of the names they’re waiting on is getting closer to a return.
Milwaukee beat the Atlanta Braves in the opener of their series to move to 80-49, and with the best record in baseball still in hand, the club keeps making a habit of shrugging off the preseason noise. Plenty of people had the Chicago Cubs pegged to take the National League Central and expected Milwaukee to slip back. Instead, the Brewers have stayed right on schedule, winning with a roster that keeps leaning on young players and rookies for real production.
That includes Luis Lara, who has picked up extra playing time while Sal Frelick has been sidelined.
Frelick has been on the 10-day injured list since July 17 because of a shoulder injury. He began a rehab assignment some time ago, but Nashville initially used him as a designated hitter so he could keep building arm strength.
Now, there’s a clearer timeline for his return. When asked when his Gold Glove right fielder would rejoin the major league club, manager Pat Murphy said, “I think you’ll see Sal in New York.”
The Brewers open a three-game road series against the New York Mets on Tuesday.
Once Frelick is activated, Jonathan Ornelas, who was recently acquired for cash, would appear to be the likely roster move and designated for assignment.
Frelick is hitting .236/.301/.330 with four home runs and 34 RBI in 90 games this season. In nine rehab games, he’s gone .281/.410/.563 with two home runs and five RBI.
In Other News...
Garrett Mitchell Gave Brewers Fans A Classy Moment On National TV
Sunday nights Brewers-Braves matchup carried a little extra sentiment beyond the score, thanks to Karl Ravechs final broadcast on Sunday Night Baseball. The longtime ESPN voice, who has been part of the network since 1993 and has covered everything from Major League Baseball to the Little League World Series, was recognized during the telecast as he wrapped up three decades in sports media.
Both Chris Sale and Garrett Mitchell made sure to publicly thank Ravech on the air, a classy touch in the middle of a nationally televised game. It was the kind of moment that reminded viewers the Brewers were part of something bigger than one nights box score, even as the broadcast quietly turned into a farewell for one of ESPNs most familiar voices. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Now Wait On Garrett Mitchell After Scary Exit
Garrett Mitchells night ended early in the Little League Classic after a 94 mph fastball caught him on the right forearm, sending the Brewers outfielder out of the game with a contusion. It was an ugly moment in a showcase setting, but the immediate news afterward offered some relief, as X-rays came back negative and pointed away from anything more serious.
Now Milwaukee is left waiting to see how quickly Mitchell can get back to normal and back into the lineup. The expectation is that he should recover soon, though the Brewers may have to make do without him for a short stretch while the soreness settles down and the team monitors how he responds. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers May Soon Face A Tough Rotation Call With Coleman Crow
The Brewers have reached the point in the season where the rotation picture is mostly clear, even if a few decisions still loom. Jacob Misiorowski, Kyle Harrison, Logan Henderson and Dustin May appear to have the top four spots in place, while Shane Drohan is expected to shift to the bullpen. Robert Gassers hold on a rotation job looks less certain after some recent struggles, leaving Milwaukee with a small but meaningful opening to monitor.
One name that keeps surfacing is Coleman Crow, whose performance in Triple-A has put him in position to force the issue. The rookie could work his way into the rotation mix or simply be an obvious call-up when rosters expand in September, giving the Brewers another arm to consider as they sort through the back end of the staff. Brandon Woodruffs rehab remains a factor in the bigger picture, but his long ramp-up makes it unlikely he changes the regular-season equation anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]