The Brewers have fought through a pile of injuries to post a 38-30 record, good for a tie with the Cubs for first place in the NL Central. While still far from fully healthy, the Brew Crew are starting to get closer to full strength, as outfielder Derek Fisher was activated off the 10-day injured list today. (Utilityman Tim Lopes was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move.) In addition, manager Craig Counsell is “somewhat optimistic” that second baseman Kolten Wong is ready to return from his own trip to the IL.
As Counsell told MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy and other reporters, Wong took part in a pregame workout today. Wong hit the injured list on June 4 due to a left oblique strain, which was the second such injury the former Gold Glover has suffered this year. Wong has been limited to 44 games and 178 plate appearances due to the two IL stints, though given the nature of oblique injuries, it’s at least fortunate that both of his strains have been on the mild side, rather than more severe issues that would require months of recovery time.
Wong has been a tremendous all-around force for the Brewers, hitting .280/.343/.441 in those 178 PA while delivering more strong defense at the keystone. With Wong out, Luis Urias got most of the second base reps, before Travis Shaw’s dislocated shoulder required Urias to see more time at third base. Jace Peterson, Daniel Robertson, and Lopes have also been part of the second base picture.
Shaw is on the 60-day IL and won’t be back until at least mid-August. Urias and Daniel Vogelbach have both been around league-average hitters at third and first base, respectively, and Milwaukee is hopeful that the struggling Keston Hiura can get himself on track and again factor into the first base mix. Still, unless Urias, Vogelbach, and Hiura all really get rolling, the corner infield positions figure to be target areas for the Brewers heading into the trade deadline, FanSided’s Robert Murray writes.
The Brewers have already made one early strike into the trade market, landing Willy Adames and Trevor Richards from the Rays in exchange for righties J.P. Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen back in May. Adames has been excellent since coming to Milwaukee, filling the shortstop hole in the infield and allowing the Brew Crew with some flexibility in how they deploy Urias. Murray also writes that the Brewers will look to add relief help at the deadline, likely to fill in the depth left by the absences of Feyereisen and Rasmussen.
Fisher could also provide some help, as the outfielder is finally healthy after spending the entire season on the IL. After being acquired in a trade from the Blue Jays in February, Fisher picked up a hamstring injury during Spring Training, and then a calf injury while rehabbing in the minors. Lorenzo Cain and Tyrone Taylor are both on the injured list, so Fisher steps right in as Milwaukee’s primary backup outfielder.
Check info in last paragraph. Fisher is a LHH and JBJ is a switch hitter
No they are both left handed hitters.
Why do people feel the need to fact check this stuff?
“In addition, manager Craig Counsell is “somewhat optimistic” that second baseman Kolten Wong is ready to return from his own trip to the IL”
Of course, he could be WONG
You know it’s an ugly situation when Derek Fisher is your much needed “help”.
Unless we’re talking a clutch 3 in a finals game
NL Central has been surprisingly feisty this season. Will the bottom drop out and if so, who will fall through?
Cubs will be buyers and reds are jellying with quality internal players to bring up. They’ll be top 2. Brewers lineup is to weak to sustain and they don’t they funds or prospects to add enough value prior to deadline. And we all know StL won’t make a move….
Brewers are the only team with great starting pitching and pitching depth. The Cubs and Reds can’t keep up with that over the long haul.
Someday St l. will make a move then all be so sorry. But not this year or any year before I die.
How ’bout them Cards.
Need starting pitching, as bad as the Brewers need a ML hitter, in a trade
Joc’sMom…It’s a long season, but hard to it not between Brewers and Cubs. But if Castillo returns to dominant form, Reds could be dangerous. IF STL made a big pitching acquisition they’d be dangerous again, but I doubt their current FO would make that type of trade.
*hard to not see it between*
Brewers front office is underrated. Seems like the trades they make generally work out to really help the team without sacrificing the future. Not my team but I bet they win the central.
what planet are you from???
Choi, Aguilar, Kris Davis, D Santana, Haniger, Segura, , Davies, Cain, Nottingham
The boy wonder’s track record is rather shoddy.
Dex, at least one of those were traded by Melvin. Also, all GMs make bad moves, but you either have to weigh it against all their moves or weigh it against other GMs. Stearns has done a pretty good job in Milwaukee, where resources are limited.
Tbh, I think its Counsell that’s making the magic here.
It doesn’t hurt they’ve developed some really good arms internally lately either
YES,BUT! Good arms , not a ML Bench or batting Lineup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stearns also does it in the smallest market in baseball. Image if he had payroll flexibility like CHI or NY or LA…
Oakland is a low salary team that plays in a dump! So is Tampa Bay! Why do they have a ML lineup and we do not! They are the examples of doing a lot, with a little., not the Brewers!
Fisher and help lol help dropping the ball or catching it with his face
I’m afraid the Crew is going nowhere fast. The offense sucks so bad it’s a wonder they’re still sniffing first place. Clearly the pitching is keeping them around, but the continual strikeouts are ridiculous. I’ve never seen a team bat so poorly with RISP. I want to be positive with their position in the standings, but it’s completely unsustainable with the run differential they’re sporting. Counsell needs to step up his game too – you’d think a guy with a career like his would appreciate a small ball approach rather than swinging for the damn fences all the time. I have seen a few sac bunts over the last couple of weeks, so I suppose there is some hope…
I have little hope in Counsel! He is what he is! I think he is the most overrated manager in baseball! Just because he is nice and low key does not make him a good lineup maker or decision maker!
Mr. Fisher is a career .199 hitter! We need to trade for a ML hitter not aquire another Ham and Egger minus offensively! We keep waiting for the wounded to return! We have lost at least 4 games in the standings this week!
I have lived in Phoenix a few years, the worst pitcher I’ve ever seen is Zack Godley, wait till you see a combo of 84 MPH and wild, Tigers and Red Sox at least have tried, he’s brutal