MILWAUKEE -- Brewers right-hander Junior Guerra was back to Milwaukee on Sunday after navigating a Minor League rehab start, and he said he expects to rejoin Milwaukee's rotation on Friday in Pittsburgh.
That assignment remained tentative because manager Craig Counsell had yet to set his projected pitching rotation for the Sept. 2-4 series, which coincides with the start of expanded rosters. Guerra, coming off a 55-pitch outing for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Saturday, must first check out medically.
"Everything was good," Counsell said. "We actually watched the start on the MiLB [online feed], and he looked really good. There were no signs of anything. We don't have a report from this morning, but he looked good throwing the ball."
Pitching for Triple-A Colorado Springs at Oklahoma City, Guerra allowed one hit and two walks with two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. He threw 55 pitches in his first outing since Aug. 3 in San Diego. The next day, he developed inflammation in his right elbow and was subsequently placed on the 15-day disabled list.
"I threw a lot of pitches, they hit a lot of foul balls, but in the end, I feel really good," Guerra said through a translator on Sunday after the Brewers' 3-1 loss to the Pirates. "That's what's important."
Asked how he approached the outing, Guerra said, "I mean, you try to use all of your pitches, of course, because you know you're going to need them up here. But you also try to make it like any other start. Try to get outs, try to be ready when I come back here."
When Guerra is activated from the DL, the Brewers plan to make at least one turn through the rotation with six starters.
Is Guerra eager to be back?
"Yeah," he said in English. "I want to be back."
Reliever Jacob Barnes (right elbow) and infielder Will Middlebrooks (right leg) are also in the midst of rehab assignments and expected to rejoin the Brewers after Sept. 1.