Brewers shuffle bullpen as they try to get healthy for stretch run
The Milwaukee Brewers have placed left-handed reliever Bryan Hudson on the 15-day injured list with an oblique strain, retroactive to July 24th. Tyler Jay, who was acquired less than a week ago in a minor trade with the New York Mets, will take his place on the active roster.
Hudson was one of the major surprises and contributors of the first half of the season for Milwaukee. He came into the season having made only six major league appearances in his career, but was one of baseball’s best relievers in the first half and flirted with an All-Star selection. He still holds a 1.60 ERA and 0.750 WHIP on the season, but since the beginning of July he has been vulnerable: in six outings this month he has allowed five runs on six hits, including three home runs, in 6 2⁄3 innings. We’re of course lacking some information, but the typical recovery time for an oblique strain would put Hudson’s return in early September.
Jay, who is 30 and also left-handed, was the sixth overall pick by the Twins in 2015 but didn’t make his major league debut until earlier this season with the Mets. His minor league record is checkered (and he didn’t pitch professionally in 2020 or 2021) but he’s been good this season: in 42 1⁄3 innings, mostly with Triple-A Syracuse in the Mets’ system, he holds a 2.34 ERA and 1.039 WHIP, and he’s walked only five batters. He’s only struck out 31, though, and in his brief time in the major leagues, his control abandoned him (three walks in 4 2⁄3 innings). Jay throws a sweeper off of three different fastballs (sinker, cutter, four seamer) and sits in the low 90s.
With yesterday’s announcement that Rob Zastryzny was placed on the 15-day IL, Milwaukee’s depth among left-handed pitchers is being tested, though the recent activation of Jared Koenig (to go along with Hoby Milner) should be a big help.