Previous to yesterday’s 5-2 win over the Pirates, the Brewers positioned right-hander Nick Mears on the 15-day injured record (retroactive to September 2) resulting from again tightness. Proper-hander Carlos Rodriguez was referred to as up from Triple-A Nashville to take Mears’ spot in Milwaukee’s bullpen.
Mears had a 5.20 ERA over 107 1/3 profession innings heading into the 2025 season, together with a 7.30 ERA in 12 1/3 frames for Milwaukee after the Brewers acquired him from the Rockies previous to the 2024 commerce deadline. Within the newest instance of the Brewers getting outcomes from an unheralded pitcher, Mears has stepped up as a dependable member of the bullpen this 12 months, posting a 3.42 ERA over 52 2/3 frames. His 21.3% strikeout price is subpar, and Mears has allowed numerous exhausting contact that has been mitigated by a .225 BABIP. On the plus aspect, his tiny 5.0% stroll price is superb, and Mears has one among baseball’s greatest chase charges due largely to his excellent slider.
The numbers would look even higher if Mears hadn’t allowed three runs in his final sport, because the righty was hit exhausting over an inning of labor within the Brewers’ 10-8 loss to the Phillies on September 1. It’s honest to imagine that Mears’ unhealthy again performed in a task in that tough outing, and the damage could have been lingering for some time, as Brew Crew supervisor Pat Murphy first talked about that Mears was coping with again issues in late July.
A membership official advised MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy that Mears might be able to return after only a minimal 15-day absence, although again accidents are likely to have an unsure timeline. Even when Mears isn’t out for too lengthy, he’s now the fifth Brewers reliever to hit the IL within the final weeks. Nearer Trevor Megill, DL Corridor, Grant Anderson, and Shelby Miller are all additionally sidelined, and in Miller’s case, his season has been ended by a UCL sprain that may possible require Tommy John surgical procedure.
Murphy supplied another damage updates Friday, telling McCalvy and firm that Anderson is slated to start a Triple-A rehab project at this time. Megill hasn’t pitched since August 24 resulting from a flexor pressure, however he has began throwing bullpen periods and the membership has set September 16 as a tentative goal date for the nearer’s return.
The Brewers have baseball’s greatest document and a fairly comfy 5.5-game lead within the NL Central, so that they have some luxurious in ready out this spate of bullpen accidents. The chief precedence is to have as many wholesome pitchers as attainable heading into the playoffs, so if Mears or anybody else wants an additional few days to recuperate, Milwaukee might be as risk-adverse as attainable.
