MILWAUKEE -- A trio of Brewers took significant steps toward escaping the disabled list Tuesday, when pitchers Junior Guerra and Jacob Barnes and infielder Will Middlebrooks took part in a multi-inning simulated game at Miller Park.
Next stop for all three: Minor League rehab assignments.
Guerra, the Brewers' best starting pitcher before right elbow inflammation sidelined him earlier this month, tentatively is scheduled to start Saturday for Triple-A Colorado Springs at Oklahoma City, manager Craig Counsell said. Middlebrooks was to report to Class A Wisconsin on Wednesday for at least two games, according to that club. Barnes' plan was still under discussion.
"Everything went perfect. The three guys involved all did good. No problems," Counsell said. "The next step is Minor League games for all of them. Will will probably get the head start on them, because he's ready to go after this."
Unless a need arises before Sept. 1, the Brewers are likely to wait until after rosters expand to reinstate those players from the DL.
Counsell, general manager David Stearns and assistant GM Matt Arnold will discuss other September callups during this homestand, Stearns said.
"I imagine what we'll do is we'll have some callups on the first and some callups at the conclusion of the Triple-A season [on Sept. 5]," Stearns said. "But we can keep a pretty fluid process and decide on what we need as we get closer."
Asked about his philosophy toward callups, Stearns said, "In general, I would tend to err on the side of fewer than more. I'm probably not unique in that opinion. You have 25 guys all year. Major League clubhouses are generally made for 25 guys. So in general, if guys are going to be here, we want them to have a purpose."
One candidate for a callup, Triple-A outfielder Lewis Brinson, was reinstated from the disabled list on Tuesday after recovering from a mild left hamstring strain. The Brewers acquired him from the Rangers in the Jonathan Lucroy trade and will have to add Brinson to the 40-man roster by November's deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft.