This might been mean spirited, and hopefully Jordan Lyles has success upon his return to Milwaukee, Lord knows we need it, but this was my first thought for a movie reference:
David Stearns scanning the trade options and waiver wires for warm bodies to fill the rotation right now. No Woodruff for 6 weeks, no Chacin for 2-4 (probably 4), Gio looks suspect to make his next start (at the very least), Jimmy Nelson hasn't been able to get it on track at any level, it's a trainwreck in the Brewer rotation at present. Currently, you've got two healthy starters: Chase Anderson and Zach Davies.
So like we talked about in yesterday's blog, because of the injuries, and the fact that despite those injuries the Brewers are just a game back in the division, you expected them to make a few moves before the deadline. Whether those moves were impact arms (Robbie Ray, Greinke, Syndergaard), or just guys to fill out rotation spots and take the ball every 5 days (Lyles) was the question. Well we got one answer yesterday when Stearns acquired Lyles via trade for the 2nd straight year. He pitched in a little over 16 innings out of the Brewer bullpen late last season, and put up a respectable 3.31 ERA. He also had a memorable moment late in an extra innings game against Pittsburgh where he not only got the win on the mound, he scored the winning run at the plate:
Down two runs, with two outs in the bottom of the 15th inning, and the Brewers win on a Lyles walk/Kratz hit/Arcia hit. Maybe the most unlikely three batter sequence given the the circumstance in baseball history.
Anyhoo, Lyles left Milwaukee at the end of the year and signed a 1 year, 2 million dollar deal in Pittsburgh. Now the beginning of his season in Pittsburgh was stellar: he pitched to a 1.89 ERA in his first 9 appearances, 8 of those were starts. In fact I can recall some Brewer fans grousing over the fact that we let him walk when he put those numbers up early. Welp, since then it's been the direct opposite. His last 9 appearances, all starts, he has an ERA north of 9, and he's been particularly awful in July, posting an 0-3 record with a gentleman's 15.00 ERA. Brewers, Brewers, turning up the heat!
Clearly Stearns and company are banking on him splitting the difference of those numbers and being a guy that can give you 5-6 innings every 5 days, and maybe give up 3-4 runs. Basically just keep me in games and take the ball routinely.
So, to recap, a few 'pro's' for Lyles: He's a living, breathing human being. He has a right arm and a pulse. He has pitched in Major League Baseball. Con's: he's been pitching batting practice for about two months, his ERA is spiking like my heart rate when I see him on the 'scheduled starter' line. Obviously we hope more moves are coming, but this one at least gives you a 3rd healthy starting pitcher.
PS: Another pro is that they didn't really give up anything to get him. They traded one minor leaguer, Cody Ponce. Ponce is a 26 year old pitcher that's been spinning his wheels in AA. If you get to your mid-to-late 20's and are still in AA, chances are you're not going to be a big time impact arm at the Major League level. I'm not saying he can't be SOMETHING at the Major League level, but I don't think we're going to be watching him winning games for the Pirates in a year or two saying, 'I can't believe we gave that guy up to rent Jordan Lyles for two months!' If Cody Ponce makes an All Star appearance I'll eat my hat and that's a promise.
