Although you can make the argument that the Brewers have one of the top five or so offenses in the National League, you can’t make the same argument about their pitching staff. Sure, the bullpen has some really good arms in Corey Knebel and Josh Hader, but after them it’s all pretty dodgy. And sure, the rotation has some guys who have been/could be decent, but there are far more question marks than periods.
Which is all to say that any injuries to the pitching staff could be especially damaging for a Brewers club that hopes to compete this year with a young core (despite an organizational failing to really supplement that pitching staff this offseason).
And the Brewers were hit with two of them yesterday:
“It’s an unfortunate day.” Craig Counsell and the Brewers lament Miley, Logan injuries with Opening Day eight days away. https://t.co/Y5I7dXwl1C
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) March 22, 2018
The injury for lefty Wade Miley was especially bad, it seems:
Wade Miley says his MRI revealed a slight groin tear. He hopes to stay with the Brewers but knows they are unlikely to add him to the roster and the big league DL. The sides have some business to sort through, since he’s due a $100K retention bonus on Saturday.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) March 22, 2018
High level of disappointment for Wade Miley, who probably had the team made. “I feel like this is the best I’ve thrown in a long time,” he said. He was hurt fielding a bunt on Wednesday.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) March 22, 2018
Miley was one of several 5th-type-starters the Brewers rolled the dice on this offseason, hoping at least one would show they still have it. Miley, 31, looked like he was going to be that guy, apparently throwing well this Spring. And he was only a couple seasons removed from being a consistently solid – if unspectacular – starter.
As for Logan, it’s a triceps injury, and the lefty figured to be an important part of the Brewers’ bullpen. Given his injury history, the Brewers will probably have to proceed cautiously, making Logan unlikely for Opening Day.
No, Miley and Logan don’t seem like critical players, but for a club that was already playing it so thin at the margins on the pitching side, the Brewers can’t afford to be losing useful arms right now. They will have to hope that some of their big-league-ready-ish arms will step up.