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Manny Pina caught each of the Brewers’ first two games in Pittsbugh as the Pirates sent out two lefties to start the series.
It turns out he won’t be able to play in the series finale after taking a foul ball off the hand, so the team is activating another catcher — Jacob Nottingham off the unnanounced-but-we-can-see-who-is-in-the-dugout taxi squad — to provide another body behind the plate. With the Pirates starting a righty in Joe Musgrove tonight, Omar Narvaez will presumably get the start.
To make room for Nottingham on the 30-man roster, the Brewers sent Bobby Wahl back to Appleton.
C Jacob Nottingham has been recalled from the Alternate Training Site. RHP Bobby Wahl has been optioned there. pic.twitter.com/CCH4jkAHnc
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 29, 2020
Counsell said Pina got "banged up" yesterday and he'd like to give him the day off. Took a foul tip off a finger. That's why Nottingham was activated.
— Tom (@Haudricourt) July 29, 2020
Wahl, like Corey Knebel, has struggled in his first couple appearances after missi anng an entire season. Wahl was creating a buzz in spring training last year before he tore his ACL, but has allowed home runs in each of his first two outings, the latest of which came Tuesday night and proved to be the losing runs.
With plenty of other arms in the bullpen, the Brewers will likely be fine without him for awhile as he tries to find his groove in Appleton.
Nottingham’s stay on the official 30-man roster may be a short one if Pina only needs the night off without worrying about having to try to play. The team’s off day on Thursday would give Pina another day of rest for that finger. Nottingham could then be moved off the 30-man in exchange for another arm — possibly Angel Perdomo, who has now cleared COVID protocol.