Crew options struggling Lauer among moves

MILWAUKEE -- Eric Lauer remains a part of Milwaukee’s future pitching plans, but his immediate future is back at the alternate training site in Appleton, Wis., following a pair of poor starts.

The Brewers dipped into their 60-man player pool on Thursday for a pair of powerful young arms after demoting struggling starter Lauer and placing reliever Justin Grimm on the 10-day injured list with a laceration on his right index finger. Up to the Major Leagues for the first time is a pair of hard-throwing prospects, right-hander Drew Rasmussen and left-hander Angel Perdomo.

Rasmussen is No. 10 on MLB Pipeline’s new list of Milwaukee’s Top 30 Prospects. Because he wasn’t on the 40-man roster, the Brewers shifted injured reliever Ray Black to the 45-day IL to clear room.

Lauer was sent out in part to provide a fresh arm ahead of the Brewers’ longest road trip of this shortened season, but also to work through the command issues that contributed to blow-up innings in each of his two starts -- most recently in a 12-2 loss to the Twins on Wednesday. Lauer lamented not being as aggressive as he was in his lone relief appearance this year, when he struck out six batters in 2 2/3 innings against the Cubs in the opening series.

“I don’t think we sent him down with any specific timeframe in mind,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “We need him to pitch better. That’s No. 1. I think he’s capable of pitching better -- and look, we want him to be here pitching for us in our rotation. That’s what we would like to have happen.

“But I also think the last two outings went a little backwards from what we saw in camp, and even in his first outing against the Cubs here [at Wrigley Field]. I thought we needed to spend some time getting back to Eric Lauer, who he is and what he does when he was successful.”

Lauer, acquired with infielder Luis Urías in a November trade with the Padres, was set back by a shoulder injury before Spring Training was suspended, then opened the 60-game season on the COVID-19 related IL because he’d come in close contact with someone who had the virus. Lauer never tested positive, but the mandatory delay meant his season got off to a later restart than other pitchers.

“Lauer’s very good. There’s no denying that,” Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff said Thursday morning. “You saw it in Spring Training, you’ve seen it with the Padres. With everything that’s going on, everybody’s kind of in a different spot. Eric had the COVID-related stuff before the season so he kind of got started late, and maybe that’s just played a factor into kind of getting him going.

“I think Eric’s going to be fine. It’s just about getting some confidence up and making some pitches.”

Bring on the kids
Both Rasmussen and Perdomo will be making their Major League debut following impressive stints in Spring Training, and in Rasmussen’s case, in Summer Camp. Perdomo missed the Miller Park portion of Summer Camp after testing positive for COVID-19.

Both had been staying ready for a callup at the alternate training site.

“We think both these guys are talented guys,” Counsell said. “They are making their big league debuts, and I think we have to remember that, but these are talented guys who can develop and be important pieces for us for a long time.”

Rasmussen, 25, endured two Tommy John surgeries before the Brewers drafted him in the sixth round in 2018, and he has shot through the Minor League system with a fastball that flirts with triple digits and a hard slider. He struck out 96 batters in 74 1/3 innings for three Milwaukee affiliates last year.

Perdomo, 26, stands 6-foot-8 and posted impressive strikeout numbers last season, when he pitched seven times for Double-A Biloxi before spending the bulk of the season (40 appearances, 54 innings) at Triple-A San Antonio. In 69 1/3 innings total, Perdomo struck out 107 batters. He finished with a 4.28 ERA.

“He looks like … a younger Aroldis Chapman,” said Brewers starter Brett Anderson after a stint in Appleton. “He has stuff that's special from the left side, and if he can harness it in certain directions towards home plate, he's going to be special, because he's big and he slings it. If he can throw strikes and throw competitive strikes, he has the arm to be special. And then Rasmussen, I saw him a little bit [in Summer Camp at Miller Park], but he's got a phenomenal arm, especially coming back from two Tommy John surgeries. He's high up on the Brewers' radar.

“But those two -- you know, I saw Perdomo throw a bullpen, he wasn't even in a game, and you could hear it. I wouldn't want to face him from the left side, that's for sure.”

Rasmussen got the news Wednesday night from Jim Henderson, the former Brewers closer who is helping to run Camp Appleton. Among Rasmussen's next phone calls: His parents, who cried; his future in-laws, who have known him for six years, through both surgeries; and former Oregon State head coach Pat Casey and pitching coach Nate Yeskie, to say thanks for the help.

“I think the reply I got from both of them was, ‘We didn’t put the work in,’” Rasmussen said. “So had to meet on neutral ground. That’s alright. It’s awesome to hear from those guys, and they were so happy for me. I’m thankful and grateful for them. It’s crazy that we all get to be a part of this journey together.”

Last call
• The Brewers don’t anticipate Grimm to linger long on the IL. A callous on the index finger of his pitching hand broke open during a long inning against the Twins on Wednesday night and impacted Grimm’s ability to throw breaking balls, Counsell said.

• The move to the 45-day IL, which is this season’s version of the usual 60-day IL, means that Black won’t be eligible to join the Brewers until the second week of September at the earliest. He suffered a right rotator cuff strain in Summer Camp, and while he has been playing catch, he is not close to getting back on the mound, Counsell said this week.