Jose Quintana Undergoing MRI for Calf Injury: Latest Injury Update

The Milwaukee Brewers just took another hit to their battered pitching staff. Veteran starter José Quintana left Sunday’s tough 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals with a calf injury.

Now he’s in a walking boot and waiting on MRI results. The team’s forced to figure out how to get by without him, all while juggling a growing list of injured pitchers as October creeps closer.

Quintana’s Injury Adds to Brewers’ Pitching Woes

Quintana’s afternoon unraveled after a couple of unlucky moments. First, he took a comebacker off his body, and then tweaked his calf hustling to cover first base.

Manager Pat Murphy said they’ll re-evaluate once they see the scans. There’s understandable worry, considering Quintana’s age, heavy workload, and some recent struggles on the mound.

How the Injury Happened

It started with that sharply hit ball bouncing off Quintana. Later, as he sprinted to first on a grounder, his calf just gave out.

Murphy had to pull him after four innings. Quintana allowed three runs before leaving, and the Brewers’ already tired bullpen had to pick up the slack.

A Rotation in Flux Amid Playoff Push

The Brewers’ pitching depth has been stretched thin all year. Seven pitchers are on the injured list right now, and five of them are relievers.

This latest blow comes just as Milwaukee’s locked up a playoff spot and looks set to claim the NL Central title. But with October looming, the rotation needs another shakeup.

The Bullpen’s Injury Toll

Here’s a quick look at the Brewers’ bullpen attrition:

• Shelby Miller – Out long-term due to UCL surgery
• Connor Thomas – Out long-term due to UCL surgery
• Logan Henderson – Sidelined for the remainder of the year

With so many high-leverage arms missing, the Brewers have almost no margin for error. Losing Quintana, even with his recent struggles, just piles on more work for the rest of the staff.

Quintana’s Season and Career Context

Quintana’s 2024 has been all over the place. Last year, he threw 184 2/3 innings with the Mets, but this season he’s at 131 2/3 innings for Milwaukee.

His recent numbers don’t look great—a 7.40 ERA over his last four starts suggests he’s running out of steam as the season winds down.

Late Arrival and Postseason Role

Quintana didn’t sign until late spring after a long free agency, so his Brewers debut didn’t come until April 11. Even before this injury, he wasn’t a sure thing for the postseason rotation.

With Milwaukee’s stronger top three starters, he probably would’ve been used as a long reliever in October anyway.

What This Means Moving Forward

The Brewers have a tiny window to sort out their playoff pitching plans. With the postseason spot locked up and the division nearly in hand, Pat Murphy and his staff have some tough choices.

They might fill Quintana’s spot with a young arm, or maybe they’ll just lean even harder on a bullpen that’s already been pushed to its limits. Either way, it’s a headache they didn’t need right now.

Potential Impact on Postseason Strategy

Milwaukee’s October hopes really depend on its pitching depth. If Quintana ends up missing a lot of time, the team might have to mess with inning limits for starters or lean into openers and bullpen days way more than they’d like.

Every inning counts in the postseason. The Brewers just can’t afford to lose any more arms right now.

The loss of a steady veteran like José Quintana definitely raises questions about how stable things will be in these crucial weeks. With MRI results on the horizon, the club and its fans are probably crossing their fingers for good news, hoping they won’t have to scramble again right before the World Series chase kicks off.

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