The Brewers plan to turn on right-handers Freddie Peralta off the 60-day injury list during the club’s upcoming three-game streak in Pittsburgh August 2-4, manager Craig Counsel told reporters (including Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). Peralta has not played in a big league game since May 22 due to a rear strain in his throwing shoulder.
Perhaps because of that lengthy layoff, Counsell said the Brewers have yet to determine Peralta’s role upon his return. Peralta returned to the mound for a minor league rehab assignment this week, throwing two innings and 33 pitches on his first outing and 52 pitches over 3 1/3 innings on his second outing last Friday. With that still a long way from the workload of a decent starter, the Brew Crew could bring Peralta back into action in a relief role, or perhaps a piggyback role, or as a bulk pitcher behind an opener.
Peralta was the most notable pitching injury Milwaukee faced this season, yet the club had the depth and quality to largely withstand Peralta’s extended absence and a few other early-stage IL trips throughout the year. Since Adrian Hauser still out with an elbow injury, the Brewers’ rotation is not yet fully utilized but Peralta’s return will help bring the team closer to their ideal starting XI.
The right-hander broke out with an all-star season in 2021, posting a 2.81 ERA over 144 1/3 innings and closing Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff to form a dominant top 3 on Milwaukee’s rotation (with Houser, Eric Lauerand Brett Anderson also make a powerful contribution). While Peralta only had a 4.42 ERA in his first 38 2/3 innings of 2022, his SIERA and Statcast numbers of 3.08 paint a much more favorable picture of his preseason performance. Of course, Peralta needs a few appearances to shake off any rust, but the Brewers are definitely hoping he can regain his top form on the track and into what the club hopes to be a little bit of baseball in October.