A Quick Start Slowed By Sudden Rash Of Injuries

All things considered, the Milwaukee Brewers made it through the first month of the 2023 Major League Baseball season about as well as anyone could have hoped.

Milwaukee opened the season with a shutout loss to the Cubs but responded with six straight victories and went 23 games before a three-game losing streak gave the Brewers their first consecutive losses of the season.

Since then, the Brewers have been bitten repeatedly by the injury bug. Starting right-hander Brandon Woodruff was lost until at least late June thanks to a subscapular strain in his right shoulder. Fellow right-handers Adrian Houser (groin tightness) and Gus Varland also closed out the month on the IL, though both are expected to return to the team in the next week or so while Matt Bush will be out until at least the end of May with right shoulder issues.

Position players weren’t immune to the injury bug, either. Milwaukee lost starting third baseman Luis Urias to a strained left hamstring that will keep him out until at least June. Outfielder Tyrone Taylor began the year on the IL thanks to a right elbow injury in spring training.

Milwaukee lost another outfielder when Garrett Mitchell’s left shoulder popped out of the joint on April 18. He’ll undergo surgery on May 1 and its not yet known if he’ll be able to return this season.

Despite all that, the Brewers posted an 18-10 record, putting them second in the NL Central, two games back of the surprising Pittsburgh Pirates.

Who’s Hot

OF Joey Wiemer

Despite an impressive showing during Spring Training, Wiemer was one of the last players cut before the team broke camp but didn’t have to wait long for his first big-league call-up as the Brewers summoned him from Triple-A Nashville when Luis Urias went on the injured list during Milwaukee’s season-opening series in Chicago.

Since then, the former second-round pick out of the University of Cincinnati has lived up to his billing as the Brewers’ No. 3 prospect. In 27 games, Wiemer is slashing .226/.309/.369 with two home runs, six doubles and three stolen bases while also flashing some pretty slick defensive moves in the outfield.

RHP Devin Williams

Milwaukee’s closer is off to a dominant start with five saves in 10 scoreless outings while striking out 13 batters over 9 1/2 innings of work.

RHP Peter Strzelecki

Strzelecki emerged as a top relief option as a rookie last season when he went 2-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 30 appearances and after earning a spot on his first-ever Opening Day roster, has picked up right where he left off and has allowed just one run in an NL-leading 14 appearances.

1B Rowdy Tellez

The affable first baseman got off to a slow start, going 5-for-40 with a double, two home runs and nine strikeouts through his first 10 games. Since then, though, Tellez has been among the hottest hitters in baseball with a slash line of .319/.400/.723, 6 home runs, 15 RBIs and a 1.123 OPS over his last 14 games.

Who’s Not

OF Christian Yelich

Yelich got the day off Sunday when the Brewers closed out the month with a 3-0 loss to the Angels in Milwaukee after collecting just one hit in his previous 15 at-bats.

While Yelich ranks among the league leaders with 22 runs scored, he’s slashing .223/.316/.340 with a .656 OPS in 27 games and has struck out 34 times in 117 plate appearances.

RHP Javy Guerra

Acquired last November from Tampa, where he had a 3.38 ERA in 17 appearances, Guerra found himself designated for assignment after posting an 8.64 ERA in eight appearances for the Brewers who ultimately dealt him back to the Rays for cash considerations or a player to be named later.

Injury Report

10-day

• OF Tyrone Taylor (elbow) has yet to play for Milwaukee this season but he’s been rehabbing with Triple-A Nashville and could return to the Brewers during their upcoming road trip.

15-day

• RHP Matt Bush landed on the IL on April 24, a day after he gave up two home runs that sparked a nine-run eighth inning for the Red Sox. Home runs have been a problem for Bush throughout his tenure with the Brewers but a drop in velocity was noticeable enough for the Brewers to put the veteran on the shelf and let his shoulder heal.
• RHP Adrian Houser posted a 3.07 ERA in four rehab starts for Triple-A Nashville and, like Taylor, could be activated as early as this week.
• RHP Gus Varland made the Opening Day roster as a Rule 5 draft pick and was off to a marvelous start (2.70 ERA in six appearances) when took a comeback off his hand April 15 at San Diego. He escaped serious injury but was placed on the IL anyway and after a pair of rehab appearances at High-A Wisconsin, will continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville.
• RHP Brandon Woodruff will spend the next week rebuilding strength in his right shoulder before embarking on a throwing program similar to Spring Training that should have him on track to return to the Brewers in late June.

60-day

• RHP Jason Alexander has not pitched at all this season after experiencing discomfort in his right shoulder while beginning his offseason throwing program.
• LHP Aaron Ashby will spend the next month rehabbing after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder on April 7. He’ll be reevaluated sometime in June and if all goes well, could then begin a throwing program with a potential return sometime in September.
• OF Garrett Mitchell will undergo surgery Monday but whether or not he returns this season is still up in the air.
• INF Luis Urias was running at close to 50% at the end of April and isn’t expected back with the Brewers until at least the end of May.

What’s Next

The Brewers open the month of May with a week-long road trip that will take them to Denver then San Francisco before returning home to host the Dodgers and Royals.

Later in the month, they’ll face the arch-rival Cardinals for the first time while also taking on the MLB-leading Rays and defending World Series champion Astros.