Last call

• Braun returned after missing Wednesday's win over the Cardinals with a strained right groin. Braun has been dealing with that issue since Spring Training and had aggravated it on Tuesday night.

Roenicke said he would know that Braun is back to 100 percent when he asks to start stealing bases again.

• Roenicke received a positive report of Jonathan Lucroy's rehab debut from a reliable source. Roenicke's son, Lance, plays for Class A Wisconsin and was in the lineup Thursday night along with Lucroy, who began what will probably be a week-long Minor League rehabilitation assignment. Lucroy is coming back from a fractured right hand.

• Veteran right-hander Livan Hernandez did not pitch in any of the Brewers' first six games out of the All-Star break but has been available all along out of the bullpen, Roenicke said. The circumstances have simply not called for a long man, Roenicke said.

• Reds star Joey Votto is on the disabled list after left knee surgery and will miss about a month. How big a difference does that single player make?

"Any time you have a Votto out of a lineup, it's huge," Roenicke said. "They still have a nice lineup without him in there, but he's huge. One of the best hitters in our league. They still have a good lineup, but he's special."