NL Central Notes: Woodruff, Palencia, De La Cruz, Johnson, Pagan, Gorman
Brewers Manager Pat Murphy told MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy and other reporters that Brandon Woodruff will return to Milwaukee’s rotation in time for the team’s series against the Reds that begins Monday. Woodruff posted a 3.60 ERA in six starts and 30 innings for the Brew Crew before being placed on the 15-day injured list on May 1 due to shoulder inflammation. Although the injury was not serious, the Brewers took a cautious approach to Woodruff’s pitching progress, perhaps in a nod to the veteran’s recent health history.
With Quinn Priester‘s season is now officially over again Logan Henderson again Coleman Crow still on 15-day IL, Woodruff’s return will help the Brewers’ injury-prone rotation. Robert Gasser perhaps the most likely candidate to be moved out of the rotation when Woodruff returns, joining Milwaukee’s rotation as an ace Jacob Misiorowski, Kyle Harrison, Brandon Sproat, Shane Drohanand Woodruff.
More from around the NL Central…
- I Cubs placed Daniel Palencia on the 15-day IL earlier this week with what was called elbow inflammation, but manager Craig Counsell told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and other reporters that an MRI revealed that Palencia is dealing with a minor mobility issue. The injury is not thought to be serious, as the plan is for Palencia to start pitching after a week off. Palencia has a 2.70 ERA over 16 2/3 innings this season, yet his strong performance has been hampered by a lack of availability, as he’s already missed weeks in April and early May with mild consistency.
- Elly De La Cruz again Pierce Johnson both began Triple-A rehab assignments yesterday, and the duo is expected to be active from Red‘ casualty list within a few days’. De La Cruz hasn’t played since suffering a hamstring injury on May 31, while Johnson hit the 15-day IL a few days ago with right elbow inflammation. Emilio Pagan he also faced hitters live during a 20-pitch simulated game session on Friday, as the reliever is about to begin his own rehab assignment. Reds manager Terry Francona told reporters (including Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer) that the plan is for Pagan to throw one more sim game Monday before starting a rehab assignment next weekend.
- Nolan Gorman was optioned to Triple-A last week but has yet to pitch in Memphis, as the pitcher works on his swing mechanics Cardinals‘Spring Training complex. As Derrick Goold of St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes, Gorman was fully on board with the idea, and there is no timetable for when Gorman could see action in Triple-A or the Florida Complex League. “Sometimes there may be ways you can attack certain issues more effectively away from games. All of this is designed to get his swing to a steeper pitch, where he has the best chance of quality contact in a variety of areas.,” said baseball president Chaim Bloom of the Cards.
