The Brewers announced they’ve reinstated starter Adrian Houser from the COVID-19 injured list. He’s starting this afternoon’s game against the Nationals. Additionally, Milwaukee recalled left-hander Aaron Ashby and optioned right-handers Miguel Sánchez and Eric Yardley to Triple-A Nashville. To create 40-man roster space, Milwaukee transferred first baseman Daniel Vogelbach from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list.
Houser has been a reliable member of the rotation this season. The 28-year-old has a 3.55 ERA over 104 innings despite worse than average strikeout and walk rates (18.1% and 10.9%, respectively). That’s largely thanks to a massive 60.5% ground-ball rate that handily leads all MLB pitchers with 100+ innings this season. Houser hasn’t pitched in two weeks since a positive coronavirus test, so it’s not clear how deep into today’s start he’ll be capable of working. The recalling of Ashby, who’s can go multiple innings himself, could enable manager Craig Counsell to run a tandem-start setup against Washington.
Vogelbach’s transfer is entirely a procedural move. The left-handed hitting slugger has been out since June 23 due to a left hamstring strain, so his sixty-day minimum stint is already completed. Vogelbach began a rehab assignment with Nashville this week, so he should be back in the big leagues in relatively short order.
Do they have room for Vogelbach? How many teams can afford to keep two left-handed hitting first basemen who only play that position?
I honestly don’t get the infatuation with Dan Vogelbach.
TO Yekatman: Only room for one barrel man! BM #2 Rowdy keeps the job for now!
He is Lovie, hugie type of guy. He plays with a lot of emotion and is liked by the Barrel man type of guys. He looks like an older slow pitch softball player build like a large fire hydrant! He is kind of like the old Crusher from the AWA days of pro wrestling. Anything else guys and gals?
Don’t get me wrong – I love Vogey, he is a fun player to watch. But the club will really have some hard decisions as players like him come off the IL.
The pending roster expansion to 28 combined with Escobars injury will certainly Keep him around.