Uribe (right forearm), Romero (appendectomy) continue rehab stints

MILWAUKEE – Navigating this section of the schedule with a six-man starting rotation, the Brewers could use Abner Uribe in the bullpen right now. But manager Pat Murphy made clear they are not going to rush him back from a forearm injury just because they have a need.

So, Uribe continued his Minor League rehab assignment with High-A Wisconsin on Friday, throwing a 1-2-3 third inning with a pair of strikeouts against South Bend while the big league club opened a three-game series against the Rangers some 100 miles down the road in Milwaukee.

“We just want to make sure, you know?” Murphy said. “He’s very important to us. We need him back as soon as possible.”

But they need Uribe back healthy, most of all. The primary setup man to closer Trevor Megill, Uribe had a 2.05 ERA in 49 appearances for the Brewers before landing on the IL on Aug. 14. He began a rehab assignment with a scoreless inning for the Timber Rattlers on Tuesday and was eligible to be reinstated as early as Wednesday, but the club opted to have him make at least one more appearance in the Minors.

“It didn’t feel great the next day, and we wanted to make sure he had a great catch play the next day,” Murphy said. “If you bring him back here and he gets [hurt again], then you’re in a bind. I think it’s wise to handle it this way.”

Left-hander JoJo Romero, the Trade Deadline acquisition who is working his way back from an appendectomy, also pitched for the Timber Rattlers on Friday and struck out all three batters he faced in the second inning. The Brewers will probably want to see him pitch back-to-back days before considering activating him from the IL.

If they continue to pitch like that, Uribe and Romero would fortify a Brewers bullpen that has been a strength. Going into Friday night against the Rangers, Milwaukee relievers had a 1.47 ERA in the team’s last 28 games, with a .180 opponents’ average and a 0.98 WHIP.