Davies' rehab start postponed after setback
MILWAUKEE -- Zach Davies has had another setback.Davies, a steady starter for the Brewers over the past two seasons, has been limited to eight starts and a 5.23 ERA in 2018 because of right shoulder and lower back ailments. He was scheduled to begin another Minor League rehabilitation assignment on Thursday
MILWAUKEE --
Davies, a steady starter for the Brewers over the past two seasons, has been limited to eight starts and a 5.23 ERA in 2018 because of right shoulder and lower back ailments. He was scheduled to begin another Minor League rehabilitation assignment on Thursday with Class A Wisconsin, but developed renewed stiffness in his back and will undergo an MRI scan instead, manager Craig Counsell said.
The setback came days after the Brewers lost another starting pitcher,
"[Davies] tried to work through it and it's still there, so we're going to have to pursue some more tests," Counsell said.
With Davies and Suter down, and Jimmy Nelson not close to returning from shoulder surgery, the Brewers' pool of starters includes their current five-man rotation (Chase Anderson,
Next on the organizational depth chart is
There is no plan at the moment, Counsell said, to move top pitching prospect
"Look, we've had injuries," Counsell said. "We have to deal with them. We have to overcome them. We've used our depth, I think, pretty effectively. Your depth is tested if you continually have to go to it."
The Brewers will get one piece of their pitching depth back this week, as reliever Matt Albers is scheduled to rejoin the team in San Francisco after clearing his latest rehab start on Tuesday for Colorado Springs. Albers, who has been sidelined since mid-June by a shoulder injury, pitched 1 2/3 innings with no complications.
Arcia swinging hot bat
"He's certainly keeping up his end of the thing," Counsell said. "He's at just under 100 plate appearances [92 in the Minors this season], so a good chunk of at-bats. He's in a good spot."
The Brewers begin an eight-game West Coast road trip on Thursday in San Francisco, so Arcia won't be far away. Asked how the team will know when it is time to bring Arcia back, Counsell said, "I don't think there's a day you know. It's going to be a little need-based, and what we're thinking about how we're situated. He's making a strong case for it, for sure."
Isn't there a need now?
"I think offensively, Tyler [Saladino] has been pretty darn good," Counsell said. "I think I would say that for sure -- I think he's been really darn good."
Saladino delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly in Tuesday's 10-inning win over the Nationals. He is slashing .246/.323/.316 since returning from an ankle injury during the first week of July, for a .639 OPS and a 75 wRC+.
In the Majors this season, Arcia is slashing .197/.231/.251 for a .482 OPS and a 27 wRC+.
Adam McCalvy has covered the Brewers for MLB.com since 2001. Follow him on Twitter @AdamMcCalvy and like him on Facebook.