On Thursday, Brewers pitcher Adrian Houser exited the game against the Pirates after the athletic trainer examined his right elbow. Houser had Tommy John surgery on that elbow back in 2016. Friday, the Brewers announced that the initial diagnosis is a right elbow flexor strain. His prognosis to return this year is good at this time.
Prior to the injury, Houser had been in quite a funk over his last five starts. From June 8 to June 30 he posted a 7.20 ERA. Prior to June 8 he had a 3.51 ERA.
Houser indicated during a post game interview on Thursday that he was having soreness as expected in the middle of a long baseball season. Hopefully Houser can return to the Brewers starting rotation healthy and start producing results similar to how he was performing earlier in the season.
Who might fill Houser’s spot in the rotation?
The Brewers rotation was just starting to get healthy prior to Houser’s injury. Brandon Woodruff made his first start on Tuesday against the Rays and Aaron Ashby is scheduled to start on Saturday. This means that one more pitcher is needed to fill out a five man rotation at this time.
Jason Alexander, who has filled in nicely in the past, is a great candidate to consider. Chi Chi Gonzalez is another option, as is calling up Ethan Small from the minor leagues. Odds are it will be either Alexander or Gonzalez who slot into the starting rotation.
With Houser’s injury, he became the fifth Brewers starting pitcher to be placed on the IL this year. The only starting pitcher who has remained healthy this year has been Corbin Burnes.
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