The injury bug has found its way into the Milwaukee Brewers clubhouse once again.
After already being down pitchers DL Hall, Joe Ross, Jakob Junis, Wade Miley, J.B. Bukauskas, and Devin Williams, the Brewers lost another key part of their pitching staff Wednesday as left-handed pitcher Robert Gasser hit the injured list with what the team is calling a left flexor strain.
The 25-year-old southpaw is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA through five starts this season. Gasser was called up in May due to all of the injuries to Milwaukee's starting rotation at the beginning of the season.
Gasser is the fifth starting pitcher for the Brewers who is currently on the IL. According to Todd Rosiak, Gasser left Philadelphia earlier Wednesday to receive a second opinion in Los Angeles from Neal ElAttrache.
In a corresponding move, Milwaukee has called up left-hander Aaron Ashby to help throw a short-term bandaid on the loss of Gasser. Ashby, 26, did not appear in a major league game last season, as he was rehabbing from shoulder surgery. In his one appearance for the big league club before his call-up this week, Ashby gave up eight runs, four earned, in 3 and 1/2 innings of work.
The Brewers gave the ball to Ashby on Wednesday, who went five innings while walking five and giving up two runs on two hits. Despite a solid outing from the southpaw, the Brewers were only able to mount three hits in the contest, as they lost 2-0 and were swept for the first time this season.
Where Milwaukee goes from here regarding who else it decides to call up is unknown. Tobias Myers was also called up Wednesday after Janson Junk was optioned to AAA Nashville.
Myers is 1-2 in six starts, posting a 5.40 ERA across 26 and 2/3 innings. He was most recently sent down to Nashville after giving up five earned runs in four and a third innings of work against one of the league's worst statistical offenses in the Chicago White Sox on May 31st.
The Brewers expect to have Junis (head, right shoulder) and Ross (low back strain) at some point soon, as both are expected to begin rehab outings shortly.
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