Another starting pitcher is the last thing the Milwaukee Brewers thought they would need. But with Quinn Priester scratched from his scheduled Wednesday start, due to a right wrist injury, that’s the boat they found themselves in. To eat the necessary innings, the Brewers signed outcast starter Erick Fedde to a “one-year deal” for the rest of the season.
DFA’d and traded by the Cardinals, Fedde was then released by the Braves on Sunday. Coming off an excellent 2024 campaign, he has had a disastrous 2025: 4-12 with a 5.76 ERA before joining the Brewers. Last year remains the highlight of his career; over eight seasons, Fedde owns a 4.97 ERA. It’s hardly an addition the team thought they would have to make, but the pitching staff is just that burnt out.
Bruised, battered, and burnt to a stub, the Milwaukee Brewers signed Erick Fedde out of pure desperation
It’s not so much the starters that Milwaukee has to worry about. Despite his wrist issue, Priester is projected to start on Saturday. Logan Henderson has been moved to the 60-day injured list, but the Brewers already have a five-man rotation without him, plus Chad Patrick and Tobias Myers.
More so, the recent patch of schedule – no days off from August 15 to September 2 – has depleted the bullpen. Every game, it seems, three or four relievers are unavailable. This was the case on Tuesday. Thrust into an atypical role, Shelby Miller had to close out the eighth and ninth innings because the Brewers had almost no other arms on tap.
To make matters worse, closer Trevor Megill has hit the 15-day injured list with a flexor strain and could miss extended time. In his absence, Abner Uribe should take over primary closing duties.
Accounting for innings after the starter goes out already presents a challenge. In a situation like yesterday’s, with the scheduled starter scratched, resorting to a bullpen game would be the norm, but manager Pat Murphy didn’t have that option at his disposal organically. Patrick pitched on August 24. Tobias Myers, one of Pat Murphy’s long relievers, threw 30 pitches on Tuesday. Not available. Murphy simply didn’t have the guys, so the team had to call up Easton McGee and sign Fedde. Both moves indicate how taxed this staff is.
After the opener, Aaron Ashby, gave the Brewers two innings, Fedde came in for four and a third. To his credit, he limited the damage despite allowing eight hits. He held Arizona to two runs, and, just as importantly, got 13 outs. His 71 pitches thrown would have been difficult to account for with Milwaukee’s available arms.
McGee held the Diamondbacks scoreless in an inning and two-thirds, but a homerun off Nick Mears in the eighth sealed the 3-2 loss. When Murphy will have to call Fedde’s number again remains to be seen, but hopefully the pitching situation can get somewhat back to normal with more regular days off in September. Megill’s injury, of course, certainly won’t help.
On Thursday, the Brewers will hope for a solid six innings from Jose Quintana. Although he couldn’t finish the frame his last time out, he has pitched into the sixth or seventh in four straight starts.
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