Turang (knee) targeting Tuesday for return to Brewers' lineup

LOS ANGELES – Brewers second baseman Brice Turang put his left knee through another battery of tests Sunday, and said he hopes to be back in the starting lineup for the beginning of a homestand on Tuesday at American Family Field.

Turang didn’t start any of the Brewers’ four games against the Dodgers because of left knee pain that had bothered him for some time, but intensified during the team’s three-game series in San Diego to the point it affected his play, especially on the basepaths.

He planned to get additional treatment during the day Sunday and on the team’s off-day Monday. The Brewers host the Mariners for the first of a three-game series Tuesday night.

An MRI scan late last week showed no structural damage, so the Brewers are attributing Turang’s discomfort to tendinitis. He also dealt with tendinitis in his left ankle earlier this year, and has been having conversations in recent days with veteran teammates and members of the athletic training staff about ways to modify his extensive pregame work to limit these instances as his career continues.

“It’s definitely a learning experience for me,” Turang said.

The Brewers have missed Turang’s bat and glove this weekend. He entered Sunday leading the team in hits, runs, doubles and RBIs, and ranked second in stolen bases. His 5.3 wins above replacement (per Baseball Reference) were more than double the next-best position player (Jake Bauers, 2.2 bWAR).

“It seems like he’s going to have to manage it all year, and I think we’re learning about him in terms of how hard he goes about things,” manager Pat Murphy said. “I think we’re close to having him better.”

STAYING WITH A SIX-MAN – FOR NOW

The Brewers are listing Kyle Harrison, Dustin May and Robert Gasser as their probable starters against the Mariners, followed tentatively by Shane Drohan, Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson against the Braves. But the plan for the Braves series, which finishes with the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa., on Aug. 23, remains under discussion, Murphy said, as the club formulates a plan for the left-hander Drohan that could mean a move to long relief.

Drohan, 27, has pitched 112 combined innings for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds and the Brewers this season, including 98 1/3 innings and counting in the Majors – second on the team to Misiorowski.

That’s the most Drohan has pitched since logging 123 innings between the Double-A and Triple-A levels in Boston’s system in 2023. Injuries limited Drohan to 16 1/3 innings in ‘24 and 54 innings in ‘25.

“I think that they’re going to make their next start, but I think after that you’ll probably see Drohan turn into more of a long role,” Murphy said. “Not that there was a definite limit, but he’s [approaching] exceeding what he’s ever done. That fact that he’s had history with injuries and this is his first year in the big leagues, what an incredible run. Maybe that might be the move. That’s what I anticipate.”

Acquired with Harrison and infielder David Hamilton from the Red Sox in February, Drohan has a 3.94 ERA in 24 games (14 starts) for the Brewers this season.

FIRST BASEMAN CHRISTIAN YELICH?

Christian Yelich manned first base on Sunday morning while the Brewers took infield practice at Dodger Stadium, but, no, that doesn’t mean he’s beginning a transition to the infield.

“Just screwing around for fun,” Yelich said. “They needed someone to come out and play first, and I had nothing else to do. That’s the first time I’ve been there in 15 years.”

His equipment was the first clue that this wasn’t a serious work session. Yelich was wearing his outfield glove.