Houser expected to start as Brewers host the Pirates
The Brewers will roll out Adrian Houser to the mound Tuesday and the Pirates will give Max Kranick the startAUGUST 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
MILWAUKEE BREWERS 93-69 · 1ST IN NL CENTRAL
93-69 · 1ST IN NL CENTRAL
John Axford - Headed for MRI Axford left Monday's game against the Pirates with elbow pain and will undergo an MRI, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Impact After being acquired from the Blue Jays earlier in the day for $1, Axford was added to the Milwaukee roster and summoned from the bullpen for his first MLB appearance since 2018. He didn't look quite right during the outing, as he recorded one out and allowed two runs on two hits, a walk and a hit batsman. Axford will be considered day-to-day until the results of his MRI are known. The Brewers can ill afford to lose any more relievers after recently placing all of Josh Hader, Jake Cousins, Hunter Strickland and Jandel Gustave to the COVID-19 injured list.
AUGUST 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Escobar homers, triples as Brewers defeat Pirates 6-2
Eduardo Escobar hit a three-run homer and an RBI triple to back up Eric Lauer’s five shutout innings in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh PiratesAUGUST 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
John Axford - Exits with injury Axford left Monday's game against the Pirates with an apparent injury, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Impact Axford had a rough go of it in his first appearance with Milwaukee since 2013, as he hit a batter, gave up two singles and walked in a run before appearing to suffer an arm injury. He left the contest with the team trainer after recording just one out.
AUGUST 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Williams 'up for the challenge' of closing MILWAUKEE -- Devin Williams has the stuff to be a big league closer, and now he has the opportunity. The Brewers placed All-Star closer Josh...
AUGUST 3, 2021 • MLB.COM
Devin Williams - Closing opportunity opens up Williams is likely to fill in as Milwaukee's closer after Josh Hader (illness) was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Monday.
Impact Hader is the fourth reliever, and fifth player overall, on the COVID IL for the Brewers, and Williams should now have the chance to work as the closer for a brief period. The right-hander has yet to record a save in 75 big-league appearances, but he's been a key bullpen piece for manager Craig Counsell over the past two years as a setup man. Williams struggled over the first few weeks of the season, but over his past 33 outings he has a 1.82 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 48:15 K:BB in 29.2 innings.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Christian Yelich - Expected back later in week Yelich will undergo COVID testing Wednesday and is expected to return from the COVID-19 injured list Thursday, assuming he clears protocols, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Impact Yelich is set to rejoin the team following the 10-day minimum even after experiencing minor COVID-19 symptoms. McCalvy notes the Brewers may elect to give their slugger a few extra days to get back in the swing of things, potentially pushing his return to the field back until the weekend. Tyrone Taylor will continue to see opportunities in left field until Yelich is cleared.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Brewers put Josh Hader on COVID-19 list after positive test
All-Star closer Josh Hader has joined the growing collection of Milwaukee Brewers on the COVID-19 injured listAUGUST 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Blue Jays trade pitcher Axford to Brewers TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays say they have traded John Axford to the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations.The 38-year-old right-hand...
AUGUST 2, 2021 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM
Luis Urías - Not starting Monday Urias is out of the lineup Monday against the Pirates.
Impact The acquisition of Eduardo Escobar ahead of the trade deadline makes it a crowded infield in Milwaukee, and Urias was always likely to be the odd man out with Willy Adames and Kolton Wong providing top-level offense and defense up the middle. Urias should still see regular playing time as a utility infielder given his solid .236/.334/.414 slash line, but his time as the Brewers' everyday starter at third base has come to an end as long as the rest of the infield stays healthy.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Closer Josh Hader becomes the latest Brewers player to test positive and be placed on COVID-19 injured list Closer Josh Hader became the latest Brewers player to test positive Monday and go on the COVID-19 injured list.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • JSONLINE.COM
Pablo Reyes - Returns to minors Reyes was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Monday.
Impact Reyes was promoted July 27 and went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a walk in four appearances. Jace Peterson (contact tracing) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list in a corresponding move.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Jace Peterson - Reinstated from injured list Peterson was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Monday.
Impact Peterson spent nearly a week away from the team due to contact tracing, but he'll be available for Monday's series opener against the Pirates. Prior to his absence, the 31-year-old had gone 4-for-21 with a run, an RBI, two stolen bases and three walks across seven games since the All-Star break.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Brewers' Josh Hader joins Christian Yelich on COVID-19 injured list Milwaukee has a total of five players on the COVID-19 injured list, as of Monday.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Josh Hader - Lands on COVID-19 IL Hader was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Monday.
Impact According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, Hader tested positive for the virus, so he'll be sidelined for at least the next 10 days. Depending how long he's out, Hader could require a rehab assignment before retaking the field for the Brewers. Devin Williams is the most likely candidate to receive save chances in the meantime.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Patrick Weigel - Stays in organization The Brewers outrighted Weigel to Triple-A Nashville on Monday.
Impact Weigel went unclaimed off waivers when he was dropped from the Brewers' 40-man roster Friday in the wake of the trade deadline. Acquired in April in the deal that sent Orlando Arcia to Atlanta, Weigel has made three appearances out of the Milwaukee bullpen this season, giving up two earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out nine in four frames.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
In need of another right-handed reliever, Brewers go for a blast from their past The Brewers have been reunited with one of the best closers in franchise history, acquiring John Axford in a minor-league deal with Toronto.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • JSONLINE.COM
Brewers acquire veteran reliever John Axford from Blue Jays
Reliever John Axford’s comeback attempt has taken a detour from Toronto to MilwaukeeAUGUST 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
John Axford - Returns to Cream City The Brewers acquired Axford from the Blue Jays on Monday in exchange for cash considerations.
Impact Per Will Sammon of The Athletic, Axford will be active for Milwaukee's series opener against Pittsburgh on Monday, so the Brewers will clear room on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for the 38-year-old reliever. Axford -- who hasn't appeared in the big leagues since 2018 -- enjoyed the best years of his career in Milwaukee, most notably setting the franchise single-season record for saves (46) in 2011. After linking up with the Blue Jays on a minor-league deal in late June, Axford proved he still had something left in the tank, as he posted a 0.84 ERA, 0.49 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB across 10.2 innings at Triple-A Buffalo. He'll provide aid to a Brewers bullpen that recently lost three members to the COVID-19 injured list.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Wilson, Pirates to face Lauer, Brewers
The Pirates will start Bryse Wilson on Monday while the Brewers are expected to counter with Eric LauerAUGUST 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Zack Brown - Moves past shoulder issue Brown (shoulder) returned to action for Double-A Biloxi on Friday, retiring two of the five batters he faced en route to earning a hold in the team's 4-1 win over Montgomery.
Impact After spending all season on Biloxi's 2021 debut while recovering from right shoulder fatigue, Brown was finally cleared to make his 2021 debut for the affiliate this weekend. Before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list Friday, Brown made two tune-up appearances in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. The Brewers had previously developed the 26-year-old Brown as a starter, but he could spend the rest of the 2021 campaign working out of the bullpen after the shoulder injury cost him considerable ramp-up time.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Brett Anderson - Yields one run in victory Anderson (4-5) allowed one run on three hits and a walk over 5.2 innings Sunday, striking out three and earning a win over Atlanta.
Impact Anderson was dominant Sunday, cruising through five scoreless frames to start the outing. He was charged with a run in the sixth after John Curtiss let an inherited runner cross home. The 33-year-old righty has been on fire lately, allowing just three runs through 20.2 innings (1.31 ERA) over his last four appearances. Anderson is lined up to face the Giants at home next week.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Hader - Notches 22nd save Hader struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning Sunday, earning a save over Atlanta.
Impact Since earning his last save on July 8, Hader has been tagged with five runs across just 3.2 innings. He bounced back Sunday, needing just 11 pitches to secure the win over Atlanta. The 27-year-old southpaw is now 22-for-23 in save chances with a 1.83 ERA on the year.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Hunter Strickland - Heads to COVID-19 IL The Brewers placed Strickland (illness) on the COVID-19 injured list Sunday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Impact Even though Strickland became the latest Brewers player known to have tested positive for the coronavirus, Milwaukee waited a day before officially deactivating him. Milwaukee called up Blaine Hardy from Triple-A Nashville to fill Strickland's spot in the bullpen and on the 26-man active roster and 40-man roster.
AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Adames' bat, Anderson's arm lift Brewers past Braves 2-1
Willy Adames hit an early homer off Charlie Morton, Brett Anderson pitched 5 2/3 strong innings, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on SundayAUGUST 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
