MILWAUKEE, WI – JULY 21: Milwaukee Brewers Starting pitcher Chase Anderson (57) delivers a pitch during a MLB game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers on July 21, 2018 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI. The Brewers defeated the Dodgers 4-2.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The injuries to the Brewers starting rotation are starting to pile up which should make them serious buyers at the deadline.
The Milwaukee Brewers are only two games out of first in the NL Central. It’s been a season long battle between them, the Cardinals and Cubs and one of those three teams is most likely going to miss the playoffs with the resurgence of the Washington Nationals.
The Brewers and Cubs are set to start a crucial weekend series, that could determine how each of these teams approaches next Wednesday’s trade deadline. Unfortunately for the Brewers the decision is probably being made for them whether they like it or not.
The injuries are starting to pile up in a hurry to the Brewers pitching staff, and it should prompt them to be very aggressive in the pitching market at the deadline. Jhoulys Chacin and Brandon Woodruff were placed on the IL with oblique injuries and are expected to be out around six weeks. Brent Suter is still recovering from Tommy John surgery, but only started throwing to hitter last week. Lastly, Jimmy Nelson was sent out on a rehab assignment earlier this week which makes his return inevitable.
The injuries to Chacin and Woodruff alone would be enough to force the team to get involved in the pitching market because any return from them wouldn’t be until around mid-September. The biggest hurdle the Brewers would face during the trade deadline is the lack of talent they have in their farm system. So a guy like Marcus Stroman, Noah Syndergaard or Zack Wheeler are essentially out of the question unless the Brewers would be willing to part with Keston Hiura which is highly unlikely.
Brice Turang is their top prospect, but given Orlando Arcia’s inconsistencies the Brewers may not be likely to move him. If they don’t go for a starter then they could continue to add bullpen depth which is the strength of their team.
Nevertheless with the injuries their rotation has suffered, and how they can’t run their bullpen into the ground before the postseason they should be very active in the trade market.