News
Suppan focused on winning, not injury
Milwaukee (63-66) vs. Pittsburgh (53-74), 1:05 p.m. CT
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com
08/30/09 12:41 AM ET
MILWAUKEE -- Jeff Suppan has his work cut out for him if he wants to rein in his numbers to meet his career averages, and he'll be pitching at slightly less than 100 percent. Ahead of his second start off the disabled list, a Sunday outing against the Pirates on Jeff Suppan bobblehead day, the right-hander said he's still feeling some lingering effects from the rib-cage strain that kept him on the DL for nearly a month. "It's tolerable," Suppan said. "Basically, these things take a long time to heal, but I feel that some soreness and things like that are just going to be part of this thing." Suppan also missed time last year with an elbow injury, but that DL assignment was almost voluntary. Because of the timing of Suppan's final start before the All-Star break, he only missed one turn through the rotation. Team officials figured that two weeks of rest was worth sacrificing one start. This time, he was unable to pitch. Suppan suffered the injury during a second-inning at-bat against the Nationals at Miller Park on July 27. "If it were an injury to other areas, I would probably have more of an understanding of it," Suppan said. "This one is kind of new for me. I don't think there's any risk of further damage. The healing process has started, and I don't know when it will full heal. As far as re-injuring the spot, that's not a concern. "I'm just going to go out and pitch. My thoughts are not on my side. My thoughts are on getting batters out." Suppan is seeking his first win since he beat the White Sox, 7-2, on June 12. He's 0-4 with a 6.70 ERA in nine Major League starts since then, a departure from his usual second-half success. Entering the year, Suppan was 64-54 with a 4.58 ERA in starts after the All-Star break. The veteran has had success in his career against Pittsburgh, going 13-3 with a 4.45 ERA in 23 career starts including two this season (he's 1-0 in those games despite allowing eight runs in nine innings). Suppan pitched for Pittsburgh in 2003. Assuming Suppan stays healthy, he''ll have something like seven starts before the end of the year. He entered 2009, the third season of his four-year contract, with a 4.63 career ERA, including a 4.78 ERA in his first two years in Milwaukee. "As far as the injury, it feels pretty good," Suppan said. "My goal is to go out and not concern myself with that." Pitching matchupMIL: RHP Jeff Suppan (5-8, 5.38 ERA)
In his return from the disabled list, Suppan slogged through 4 1/3 innings against the Reds on Tuesday with 90 pitches and was charged with four runs on nine hits and five walks, though one of the walks was intentional. He pitched at least six innings in three of his nine starts since June 12, but in the other six he's allowed 32 earned runs and 50 hits in 29 1/3 innings. PIT: RHP Ross Ohlendorf (11-8, 4.10 ERA)
Ohlendorf left in line for his fourth straight win, only to have the bullpen blow the lead late in his last start. Pitching against a tough left-handed-heavy Phillies lineup, Ohlendorf allowed just two solo homers in 6 1/3 innings. Not usual for the righty, most of his outs were recorded via fly ball, a result of the Phillies not biting at his sinker all that much. Ohlendorf has beaten the Brewers in each of his two career starts against them. In 12 innings against Milwaukee, Ohlendorf has allowed just three earned runs. Tidbits
Manager Ken Macha will announce his probable pitchers for the upcoming St. Louis series on Sunday. He's considering ways to monitor right-hander Yovani Gallardo's workload, but bumping him back a day in this case would mean Gallardo would miss the series against the Cardinals. Since the Brewers still publicly consider themselves contenders, that would be a tough move. ... Injured relievers Seth McClung (elbow) and Jesus Colome (forearm) are scheduled to throw 30-pitch bullpen sessions on Sunday morning. McClung has been on the disabled list since July 25 and is trying to rehab his elbow without succombing to a second career Tommy John surgery. ... For now, Macha has scrapped batting the pitcher eighth and shortstop Alcides Escobar ninth. Escobar batted eighth on Saturday for the second successive game. "If we're going to have [a position] player batting ninth, he needs to get on or you don't have any benefit from it," Macha said. Escobar entered the weekend with a .292 on-base percentage. ... Corey Hart, recovering from his Aug. 2 appendectomy, threw in the outfield on Saturday and took batting practice. He apparently will travel with the Brewers to St. Louis next week before joining postseason-bound Double-A Huntsville for a rehabilitation assignment. The Brewers don't yet know how many Minor League games Hart would need to be ready for the big leagues. Tickets
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• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Brewers (Braden Looper, 11-6, 4.88) at Cardinals (Joel Pineiro, 13-9, 3.11), 7:15 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Brewers (Dave Bush, 3-5, 5.88) at Cardinals (Chris Carpenter, 14-3, 2.20), 7:15 p.m. CT
Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
