The Milwaukee Brewers maintained their lead in the National League Central Division by scoring a season-high 12 runs in their route of the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday afternoon. The win featured numerous offensive feats including more home run history from Jackson Chourio and William Contreras joining an elite list of Brewers with 20 RBI through 19 games.
Unfortunately, it was far from a clean win for the Brewers. Starting left-handed pitcher DL Hall, who is off to a rough start to the season, struggled once again. He ended his day on Saturday with 3.2 innings pitched, five hits, four earned runs, five walks, and three strikeouts. On the season, Hall is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA and 2.27 WHIP in four starts.
After Saturday’s game, manager Pat Murphy was asked if Hall would continue to make starts despite his struggles. According to Todd Rosiak of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Murphy responded:
“There’s got to be adjustments. We’re not just going to keep rolling out the ball, throw 3 1/3 and say that’s fine. It’s not acceptable.
“But he’s a young kid.”
On Sunday, the Brewers made a roster move that may indicate that the Brewers and Hall are going to get plenty of time to figure out what adjustments he needs to make.
The Milwaukee Brewers Place DL Hall on the 15-Day IL
On Sunday morning, the Brewers announced via social media that Hall is being placed on the 15-day injured list with a sprained knee. Apparently, Hall sprained his knee while fielding a bunt in the second inning of yesterday’s game. He still went out to pitch another full inning-plus of baseball despite the injury.
LHP DL Hall placed on the 15-day injured list with a left knee sprain.
LHP Jared Koenig recalled from Triple-A Nashville. pic.twitter.com/RC7kDP9Ip6
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 21, 2024
Hall’s trip to the injured list makes the Brewers’ thin starting rotation even thinner. Indeed, the bullpen has been relied upon heavily to start the season and, while they have strung together 13 wins, have inspired questions regarding whether or not Milwaukee has enough starting pitching to compete in the postseason.
The Milwaukee Brewers Call Up Mr. 1000, Jared Koenig
As noted in the Brewers’ social media post, Milwaukee has recalled left-handed pitcher Jared Koenig from Triple-A Nashville to take Hall’s spot on the roster.
Koenig, who signed with the Brewers back in November of 2023, recently pitched last week Monday against the San Diego Padres. What was notable about this appearance was that Koenig became the 1,000th player in franchise history to take the field.
In two games last week, Koenig logged 3.2 innings of relief without allowing a run. Down in Nashville, he has a 1.93 ERA in four appearances. Koenig has not pitched for the Brewers or Sounds since Tuesday.
The Milwaukee Brewers Need Another Starting Pitcher
While Koenig’s second promotion of the season gives Milwaukee a much-needed bullpen arm in their series finale against the Cardinals, it does not solve the problem of their losing another starting pitcher.
According to Rosiak, Murphy indicated that Bryce Wilson, who started a bullpen game against the Padres, could be an option. However, he also stated that the Brewers could look to the lone remaining player they have from the Josh Hader trade: Robert Gasser.
Last season, Gasser went 9-1 with a 3.79 ERA in 25 starts for the Nashville Sounds. He has yet to appear in a game this season, though, due to bone spurs in his left elbow, an injury that Murphy said would keep him out for several weeks (these statements were made on March 27).
While Murphy did just mention Gasser as a potential replacement, it is not likely the Brewers would make his first action of 2024 his Major League debut. Gasser, more than likely, is a potential starting rotation piece later in the season instead of an emergency starting pitcher right now in April.
Aaron Ashby is currently down in Nashville, as are Corbin Martin and Tobias Myers. Both pitchers are already on Milwaukee’s 40-man roster.
Martin first appeared in the Major Leagues in 2022 when he compiled a 0-1 record in seven games (two starts) with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He had a 4.84 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. Martin missed the entire 2023 season due to injury.
Myers is currently 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA in three starts with the Sounds. He has recorded 22 strikeouts in just 16.2 innings of work.
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