After grueling stretch, Crew rests, awaits reinforcements

MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers limped to the finish of 18 games in 17 days with consecutive shutout losses to the Padres on Friday and Saturday followed by a 6-4 defeat in 10 innings Sunday afternoon at American Family Field.

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Here are three pieces of good news for a weary, banged-up ballclub:

1. Monday is an off-day.
2. The Brewers won’t face another stretch this grueling for the remainder of the season.
3. They are about to get healthier -- potentially, a lot healthier.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell didn’t want to commit on Sunday evening, but the expectation is that shortstop Willy Adames will be activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday for the series opener against the Phillies after rehabbing ankle and quad injuries.

Right fielder Hunter Renfroe, whose absence has been felt just as much in recent days, said he expects to be activated Tuesday from the IL after a hamstring injury. Infielder Luis Urías said he would be available after missing three games with a painful thumb issue.

That’s only a portion of the current walking wounded, but it would be a good start after 18 games without a day off.

During that period, the Brewers were without Adames. They placed Renfroe, starting pitchers Freddy Peralta and Brandon Woodruff, catcher Omar Narváez, reliever Luis Perdomo and utility player Mike Brosseau on the injured list. They played without closer Josh Hader and Urías for multi-game stretches, had four pitchers make Major League debuts and called up a catcher from High-A ball in a pinch.

They managed to go 9-9 in those games and remain in first place in the National League Central at 33-23.

“I’m just a guy following orders. We’re doing the best we can to be back as soon as we can,” Adames said. “We’re going to be smart. I know we’re having a tough moment right now as a team, but I promise you we’re doing everything we can to be back as soon as we can. You probably know that I love to be on the field, but when I come back, I want to stay there.”

The Brewers have exercised caution with all of their injured players, even if it means grinding through difficult days like this weekend against the Padres. In the finale Sunday, Kolten Wong’s leadoff home run was their only extra-base hit until Wong went deep again in the eighth inning with a runner aboard for a 3-3 tie.

But the Brewers just couldn’t get that next big hit. In the ninth inning, Hader tied a Major League record with his 40th consecutive scoreless appearance before Trevor Gott surrendered a three-run homer to Jake Cronenworth in the top of the 10th.

“We're just in a little stretch where we're not getting much going,” Counsell said. “You're going to go through a stretch of the season when you've got some guys who aren't swinging the bat well. We've got some guys who are banged up, and that's changed who's been playing a bit, but everybody's got a 162-game schedule with no off days. So that's no excuse.”

Asked about whether he considered sending Hader back to the mound in the 10th following a 15-pitch ninth when he was pitching on five days’ rest with an off-day to follow, Counsell said, “No. Not right now.”

Because it’s so early in the season?

“I didn't consider it today,” Counsell responded.

So Hader will be fresh for Tuesday against the Phillies, along with some others. Wong preemptively called Monday, “one of the best off-days in a while.”

“I think everyone is kind of drowning in playing so much,” he said.

Wong is among the players who have quietly battled through bumps and bruises not serious enough to sideline him, but enough to impact his play. Among three hit by pitches in the past two series, Wong was struck on the right calf by a fastball at Wrigley Field. It has caused lingering calf and hamstring tightness that he has managed in the days since. Fans watching closely may have noticed Wong limping through the later innings.

Adames planned to spend the off-day at the ballpark getting more treatment in an effort to be ready for Tuesday. He did more running on the field Sunday under the watch of the Brewers’ medical staffers, who wanted to get eyes on him since the right quad discomfort that interrupted his time in the Minors developed after he departed to rehab a left ankle injury.

“It was tough,” Adames said. “I wanted to be back, even just to be in the dugout supporting them. Like I said, it’s been a tough moment for the team. A lot of people getting hurt. We don’t want that. …

“I’m proud to see the work they have done, and, hopefully, we can be back to help them win more games.”