Crew keeping scuffling Cravy in rotation

CHICAGO -- The Brewers will continue taking a look at 26-year-old rookie right-hander Tyler Cravy, who struggled again in Thursday's 9-2 loss to the Cubs, to recapture the stuff he displayed earlier this season during a dominant debut in St. Louis.

Cravy fell to 0-4 after allowing four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings on four walks and four hits, including a pair of fifth-inning home runs. The outing boosted his ERA to 5.92 after 24 1/3 Major League innings.

Asked whether there were any pitching prospects the Brewers would like to evaluate in that spot, manager Craig Counsell said, "I don't think we have long term with that. I think we're kind of just going start by start right now. [Zach] Davies is a guy we traded for. He could be a possibility. But I think for now we're going with Cravy and letting him show us what he can do."

The Brewers acquired Davies -- their No. 11 prospect, according to MLB.com -- from the Orioles in a July 31 trade for Gerardo Parra. While Davies works at Triple-A Colorado Springs, Cravy was inserted into Milwaukee's rotation in place of veteran Kyle Lohse, who owned a 6.31 ERA when he was bumped to the bullpen.

In his two starts since that move, Cravy has surrendered 10 earned runs on 12 hits and six walks in 9 1/3 innings. He walked a batter in four of the five innings in which he pitched Thursday.

They included a one-out walk to Addison Russell in the fifth that preceded Dexter Fowler's go-ahead home run. Kyle Schwarber followed with a solo shot to end Cravy's outing.

"I feel like we kind of give into guys when we don't really have to," Cravy said. "A couple of things I would have done different, probably. A couple of pitch selections. …

"It's pretty tough. You're trying to read the swings. And when guys foul it off, sometimes we shy away from that pitch and throw something else. I feel like we should have doubled up on some of the pitches today and made them put it in play."

That included both of the home runs, he said.

"We should have gone with the changeup down," Cravy said. "They were fouling it off, but I think if they did put it in play, it would have stayed in the park."

Thursday's loss was the Brewers' 16th in their past 22 games.

"You have to remember you're getting paid to play a kids' game," Cravy said. "You've got to go out and have fun every day. You never know when you're not going to be able to do this anymore, so you play every game like it's your last, really."