Burnes goes back to 'pen, but 'that could change'

MILWAUKEE -- Corbin Burnes is back with the Brewers to pitch out of the bullpen, but manager Craig Counsell said that doesn’t preclude a return to the rotation at some point this season.

If that sounds exactly like the back and forth the Brewers said they wanted to avoid with Burnes, well, plans change.

“He’s in the ‘pen right now. That’s where we have a need right now, but that could change,” manager Craig Counsell said. “I see it a little bit like Brandon Woodruff last year. We did go back and forth with him. But right now, there’s a need in the bullpen, so that’s where we’re going to use him. I think he’s one of our best 13 arms and we want him on the team.”

What changed? Mostly, it was the addition of veteran starter Gio Gonzalez, who made his season debut last weekend against the Mets and is lined up to start against New York again on Saturday at Miller Park.

With Gonzalez in the fold, Freddy Peralta off the injured list to start Thursday’s game against the Rockies and the Brewers still seeking stability in the bullpen, it added up to Burnes coming back to pitch in relief. But Peralta's status in the rotation was shaky after an 11-6 loss to the Rockies, with Counsell indicating club officials would "have a conversation" about whether to make another change.

“We made some other decisions, and we have to give those decisions a chance to play out and evaluate them and then see where we’re at,” Counsell said. “We’re not closing any doors here. But we do want who we feel like is one of our better pitchers helping us get outs at the big league level.”

Trouble is, Burnes has not performed like one of the Brewers’ better pitchers so far. He was fantastic as a reliever last season following a July promotion to the Majors, but his ERA for 2019 rose to 10.98 after Burnes allowed three runs in two innings Wednesday night in an 11-4 loss to the Rockies.

Burnes didn’t expect to pitch in that game. He was in Milwaukee a day early ahead of a planned roster move on Thursday, but when scheduled starter Chase Anderson was scratched because of a bleeding right ring finger, the Brewers hurriedly made a roster move.

What was Burnes told about his role moving forward?

“Right now, they said it’s going to look like this for maybe the next two to three weeks,” he said. “That’s kind of how far they’ve looked ahead. Obviously, if something happens in the next week or two, I would be able to switch back pretty quickly. I think they’ll have me in two- to three-inning stints to keep the pitch count up in case something happens.”

Burnes said he’s on board with pitching in any role the Brewers require.

“I’m going to do whatever I can to help this team win games," he said. "Right now, it’s coming out of the bullpen.”

Yelich's stiff back showing improvement
Christian Yelich was optimistic about his improving health on Thursday morning, when he tested his stiff lower back with some swings in the batting cage. If that went well, the plan called for him to take batting practice on the field before Friday’s opener against the Mets and perhaps rejoin the starting lineup on Saturday or Sunday.

Asked when he would be back, Yelich said, “That’s a good question. I’m wondering that myself.”

In other words, his health will determine the timeline.

Last call
The Brewers activated Peralta from the 10-day IL and recalled right-hander Taylor Williams before Thursday’s series finale against the Rockies, while optioning relievers Jacob Barnes and Donnie Hart to Triple-A San Antonio. The Hart move could be seen coming from a mile away after he pitched a career-high three innings of scoreless relief in Wednesday’s loss. Hart knew fresh arms were coming.

“It happens,” Hart said. “This team is all about winning, and if that’s what helps us try to win a ballgame today, having two fresh arms, then so be it. It’s part of it. I’ve been on both ends of it before, so it’s nothing new to me. No one feels sorry for you. Just go down there, get your work in and be ready.”