Houser exits strong start with hip discomfort

MILWAUKEE -- Add Adrian Houser to the list of ailing Brewers starting pitchers after the right-hander pitched through discomfort in his left hip that forced his exit after five innings from Tuesday’s 6-3 loss to the Cardinals at Miller Park.

Houser is in Milwaukee’s rotation because of a slew of injuries to others and has been a bright spot recently. Tuesday marked the fourth straight start in which the right-hander limited the opponent to one earned run.

“The landing, I wasn’t really able to be firm there and it got sore on me,” Houser said. “We’ll see how it feels [Wednesday]. I think it had a little effect on some control issues. I didn’t have my best command tonight. I think it was affecting how I got down the mound, and some little things like that.”

Houser’s next start is tentatively scheduled for Monday at Miller Park against the Astros, the team that traded him to Milwaukee in July 2015.

Is he worried about missing that outing?

“Not too worried about it right now,” Houser said. “I think we’ll be able to get it taken care of and be out there for the next start.”

Houser said he endured a similar issue last year, his first full season back from 2016 Tommy John surgery. With treatment, he was able to work through it.

If he’s sidelined this time, the Brewers will have the arms to fill those innings. Sunday is Sept. 1, the date rosters expand, and Milwaukee anticipates making a significant number of callups.

“It was a good outing, his stuff was good, but he was behind in the count frequently,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “So we got through five and it kept creeping up on him, so we had to say that was it. Healthy, he goes back out there [for the sixth].

“Yeah, it’s a concern. I don’t think it’s major, but we’re going to have to watch him the next couple of days.”