SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Right-hander Zach Davies missed a turn in the Brewers' Spring Training rotation because of two of the most dreaded words in baseball: strained oblique.
A strained left oblique, to be precise. Such injuries are notorious for lingering, like the one that sidelined fellow Brewer Chase Anderson for seven weeks last July and August, though manager Craig Counsell characterized Davies' as "minor." Counsell said he expected Davies to get back on schedule on Tuesday against the Rangers at Maryvale Baseball Park.
Davies, the only Brewers pitcher to top 30 starts last season, when he was 17-9 with a 3.90 ERA, complained of discomfort after pitching two innings against the Rockies on Saturday in his second Cactus League appearance and first start. He was to start again on Thursday against the D-backs, but he took the day off before attempting a bullpen session on Friday.
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"He had a good day today playing catch, so we didn't have to really shut him down," Counsell said Wednesday morning. "This is a cautious thing more than anything. He's on track to make his next start as of now."
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If he pitches as scheduled next week, Davies would remain on track for Milwaukee's Opening Day rotation, Counsell said. The Brewers have yet to make any announcements about their pitching plans for their Opening Series in San Diego.
Davies is one of three pitchers, with Anderson and Jhoulys Chacin, who reported to camp with rotation spots locked up. Though Milwaukee has been linked to a number of free-agent starting pitchers and others on the trade block, general manager David Stearns said as recently as Monday that the team is unlikely to make any more significant signings or trades, meaning he expects to fill the remaining openings with players already in camp.
Currently, those candidates include left-handers Brent Suter and Wade Miley and right-handers Junior Guerra, Yovani Gallardo, Brandon Woodruff and Aaron Wilkerson.