PHILADELPHIA -- Add his right wrist to the list of body parts that have cost Ryan Braun playing time this season. Before missing a third straight start on Friday, the Brewers outfielder revealed that he had a cortisone shot before the All-Star break for pain in his wrist, which has bothered him in addition to previously-disclosed left calf and right elbow injuries.
Braun said he was hopeful he'd be back in the Brewers' lineup Saturday night.
"Coming off back surgery last year, I went into the season much less confident that I would stay healthier than I did this year. [This year], I felt great," Braun said. "This spring was as good as I've ever felt coming into a season. It's been certainly frustrating and disappointing, to say the least. But at the same time, I try to stay positive, stay optimistic, and do what I can to finish strong over hopefully the next three-ish months."
Braun has been limited to 41 starts in left field, plus two as the Brewers' designated hitter in the team's first 99 games. He has been productive when he's played -- Braun's .363 wOBA is only 10 points off his performance last year -- but he entered the weekend series at Citizens Bank Park on pace for just 269 at-bats.
"I think he wanted to play tonight, to be honest with you," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell on Friday afternoon. "I thought, 'Just make sure.' He's available tonight again, he'll be in there [Saturday] for sure. I'm just trying to manage it the best we can and make sure he can be that middle-of-the-order force that we know he can be.
"[The wrist injury] has been there. I think a lot of guys play with stuff that's there. There's an injury report every night and there's stuff that's there that you have to play with. Not different from other guys, really."
Sogard, Peralta poised to return
The Brewers are expected to activate infielder Eric Sogard from the disabled list on Saturday, and reliever Wily Peralta is not far behind.
Sogard's presence in the Brewers clubhouse on Friday was expected, but Peralta's came as something of a surprise. Peralta was struggling in the wake of a demotion to the bullpen when the Brewers placed him on the DL June 21 with a right calf strain, and those woes continued in the second appearance of a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Colorado Springs. Peralta surrendered six runs (five earned) on four hits and two walks on July 8 at Round Rock, promoting a 10-day hiatus during which he pitched only on the side under the watch of SkySox pitching coach Fred Dabney.
In two subsequent appearances, including one on Thursday, Peralta surrendered only one unearned run in three innings, without allowing a hit.
"Now I feel like I'm really a bullpen guy," Peralta said. "Routine-wise, sitting in there and watching the game. Standing up and warming up, I feel like it's kind of normal now."
Said Counsell: "He's obviously got to prove it here, but I think he's coming in from a good place." Sogard, meanwhile, emerged unscathed from a two-game rehab stint with Class A Advanced Wisconsin. He's expected to resume a timeshare at second base with Jonathan Villar, and will also help spell shortstop Orlando Arcia, Counsell said.