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Milwaukee Brewers: Jose Quintana Settles Down Vs Phillies for Solid 1st Outing in Return from Injury

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By John Sbisa | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 5:35 PM ET

Sunday afternoon against the Phillies, Jose Quintana took the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers for the first time since hitting the injured list with a shoulder injury. It took him a couple of innings to find his groove, allowing the Phillies to scratch across a pair of runs, but the Brewers offense woke up late to produce a series-sweeping 5-2 win, giving Quintana a no-decision in what proved to be a very solid return.

Milwaukee Brewers Rally for 7th Straight Win as Quintana Limits Early Damage

Quintana struggled to find his command early on, issuing four walks in the first two innings. On the strength of a pair of singles, including an infield hit, the Phillies plated a run in each frame. Hard contact was not the issue, as Quintana did not surrender an extra base hit all day. From the third inning on, he put down Phillies in routine order, leaving after the fifth with Milwaukee down 2-1.

Pitch count, instead, was what got him out of the game, as his early lack of precision bumped him to 82 pitches through five. Quintana limited the damage in the first by striking out the side, but those at bats contributed to the top-heavy workload that ultimately shortened his day. Coming off an IL stint, there was no need to push it.

Overall, the lack of hard-hit balls is a promising sign from an arm the Brewers are very glad to have back. With Aaron Civale making his own return on May 27, two veteran pitchers are now back in the mix, a welcome development as the team has navigates a myriad of injuries in the starting rotation.

Starting Rotation Could Be Finally Coming Together

Quintana departed today’s start, his seventh of the season, with a 2.77 ERA in 39 innings on the year, whiffing 27 while allowing 15 walks and 35 hits. As evidenced against the Phillies, minimizing extra base hits is his main strength, compensating for a low strikeout rate. That is pretty much what the Brewers expected when they signed him this offseason coming off a successful season with the Mets. Being able to provide five or six steady innings most times out would go far toward stabilizing the rotation.

His return comes at a time when the Brewers as a whole seem to have found their stride. With their sweep of the Phillies, they have now won seven in row. At 32-28, they sit just 1.5 games behind the Cardinals and Giants for the third and final National League wild card spot. Following an ugly 0-4 start and an extended stretch treading water, the Brewers are finally playing some good baseball.

Continuing their road trip Monday in Cincinnati, they will trot out Civale for his third start this season. Before too long, the Brewers could have Brandon Woodruff back, too. He has begun a minor-league rehab assignment and is projected to rejoin the Brewers later this month.

When Woodruff does return, assuming everyone stays healthy, manager Pat Murphy will have a decision to make, as he would then have at least six viable starters: Woodruff, Quintana, Civale, Chad Patrick, Freddy Peralta, and Quinn Priester. Down in Triple-A, Tobias Myers and Logan Henderson could also complicate things if they are pitching well. Nestor Cortes could return from injury after the All-Star break.

First things first, though, it was just good to see Quintana toeing the rubber again as the Brewers’ preferred starting southpaw.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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