Brewers need relief help as they open series with Pirates

Despite having the best record in the major leagues, the Milwaukee Brewers are hurting as they begin a three-game road series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

The Brewers, who have lost three of their past four games and gone 8-11 since Aug. 17, have been dealing with numerous injuries to their relievers.

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said Thursday that another key reliever is about to be placed on the injured list as early as Friday. Murphy did not say who it would be, but he indicated the injury did not happen on Thursday.

The Brewers (86-55) have already lost Shelby Miller (right UCL sprain) for the season and Logan Henderson (right flexor tendon strain) for at least the remainder of the regular season.

DL Hall (right oblique strain) isn't expected back until late September. Grant Anderson (right ankle tendinitis) is starting a rehab assignment this weekend at Triple-A Nashville. And closer Trevor McGill (right flexor strain) threw a bullpen session on Thursday and could return by Sept. 16, per Murphy.

Signs point to one of three righties -- Craigh Yoho, Erick Fedde or Nick Mears -- landing on the IL, as they were the club's only relievers who did not pitch or warm up at any point in the Thursday game.

"There's gonna be another announcement here at some point," Murphy said. "We'll deal with it at that time."

The pressure is on right-hander Quinn Priester (11-2, 3.28 ERA) to pitch deep into the Friday game when he opposes Pirates right-hander Johan Oviedo (2-0, 3.60).

Priester started on May 24 in Pittsburgh and threw six innings of one-run, six-hit ball, striking out seven and issuing one walk. He did not factor in the decision as the Pirates won 2-1. That was his only career meeting with Pittsburgh.

Priester has won 10 consecutive decisions, with his last loss coming on May 13 at Cleveland, and the Brewers have won the past 16 games (13 starts) in which he has pitched.

In his most recent outing, Priester threw six innings against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, allowing just one (unearned) run and five hits while striking out three and walking none.

Oviedo will make his fifth start since returning from a nearly two-year absence following Tommy John surgery, and he will look to keep the Pirates on a roll. Pittsburgh (64-77) is coming off a three-game sweep of the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers and has won 12 of its past 16.

Seven of those wins came against teams that currently occupy postseason positions.

"Just really proud of our guys," said Don Kelly, who has led the Pirates to a 52-51 record since taking over as manager on May 8. "The way they've come together and the way they've committed to an approach. They continue to get better every day."

Oviedo has been one of those improved elements. He is coming off his longest outing of the season in terms of pitches (79) in a 10-3 win at Boston on Saturday. Oviedo gave up two runs on three hits and three walks in five innings and matched his season high with six strikeouts.

For his career, Oviedo is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in six overall appearances against Milwaukee, including three starts.

--Field Level Media