MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers' family grew by two this week, as outfielder Ryan Braun and catcher Manny Piña were absent at the start of the team's final homestand Tuesday while tending to newborns at home.
Braun and wife Larisa had their second child, a son named Greyson Joseph. Pina and wife Leny welcomed a daughter, Jimena Sofia. Those children joined a veritable baby boom for the Brewers in 2016, who celebrated births for Wily Peralta and Hernán Pérez earlier this season.
Pina was expected back in uniform for the team as early as Tuesday night, but the Brewers called up another catcher, Josmil Pinto, in case family matters prompted a longer absence. It was unclear when Braun would be back.
"We're on Day 1, so we'll kind of wait and see," manager Craig Counsell said.
With the addition of Pinto, the Brewers' 40-man roster was full. A 27-year-old claimed off waivers from the Padres in December and subsequently removed from Milwaukee's roster, Pinto hit .308/.362/.517 in 82 games for Triple-A Colorado Springs. He played in the big leagues for the Twins in 2013 and '14.
Nieuwenhuis on hold
Outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis underwent an MRI scan on Monday that "came back good," he said, offering a glimmer of hope he will be able to play again this season. Nieuwenhuis was one of two center fielders injured Friday at Wrigley Field, suffering an abdominal strain four innings after taking over for Keon Broxton, who broke his right wrist crashing into the ivy-covered wall.
Nieuwenhuis was to be examined again Tuesday by head team physician William Raasch.
"I'd love to go again this year," said Nieuwenhuis, conceding that the calendar works against him. "Hopefully we can find something to get me through."
Rotation TBA
Counsell declined to reveal his starting pitching plans beyond the Brewers' current series against the Pirates, which continues Wednesday with Jimmy Nelson on the mound and Thursday with Chase Anderson. With Junior Guerra already a healthy shutdown for the season, Friday would be Zach Davies' regular day to start, though Davies has already thrown a career-high 167 1/3 regular-season innings between Triple-A and the Majors.
"We may do something different," Counsell said.
One possibility: A start for Taylor Jungmann, the former first-round Draft pick who opened the season as Milwaukee's No. 3 starter but struggled so badly he was demoted to Triple-A and later to Double-A before rediscovering his form.
Blazek passes test
Reliever Michael Blazek threw another simulated game Tuesday and, barring an unforeseen setback, will be active in the Brewers' bullpen as soon as Thursday. Blazek has been sidelined since mid-August by a forearm injury.