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We knew the Milwaukee Brewers had to make a roster move in the next couple of days, but it’s unlikely anyone thought this would be it — Brandon Woodruff is back on the shuttle back to Colorado Springs and is being replaced on the 25-man roster by Brett Phillips.
Brewers have called up Brett Phillips and optioned Brandon Woodruff. Could be a one-day move; Woodruff would was probably headed out when Miley is activated for tomorrow’s start, but pitched last night and wouldn’t be available tonight. This way, you get an extra bat. We’ll see.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) May 1, 2018
Woodruff getting sent down ahead of Wade Miley being added to the roster makes some sense. With Brent Suter getting shifted to the bullpen, Woodruff was no longer needed as a multi-inning option/piggyback for a short Suter outing, so he goes back to the Sky Sox to stay stretched out as a starter.
This latest stint in the majors went better for Woodruff than the first, allowing zero baserunners in 2.1 innings of relief work in two outings against the Cubs and Reds, striking out four.
But the fact that Phillips is getting the call is a little curious, or the timing at least makes us wonder what other move is coming in the next day.
It’s possible Phillips will just spend a single day with the big league team, but there’s also this to consider: a spot on the 40-man roster will have to be cleared, and if the Brewers are already making room on the 25-man roster today by sending a pitcher down, perhaps a position player is on the chopping block Wednesday. If Phillips sticks around, he’d be a left-handed bat off the bench. It’s worth noting another lefty off the bench is currently hitting .113/.175/.170 in 25 games.
In other words, this may not look good for Eric Sogard. Time will tell.
Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference