Brewers’ Quintana, Megill Throw to Hitters Ahead of Playoff Return

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As the Milwaukee Brewers gear up for another postseason, their pitching staff faces a tricky stretch of assessment and recovery. Injuries have shaken up the rotation.

But lately, José Quintana and Trevor Megill have shown some promising signs. Reinforcements might just arrive in time for October baseball.

The Brewers have already locked up the National League Central title. Now, they’re trying to balance celebration with the real work of prepping for a tough playoff run.

Quintana Eyes Postseason Return After Calf Injury

Veteran lefty José Quintana took the mound for a simulated game on Friday, tossing 45 pitches over three innings. Manager Pat Murphy liked what he saw, calling Quintana sharp for his first time facing hitters since a left calf injury ended his regular season back on September 14.

Experience Meets Urgency

Quintana’s been here before—he’s pitched in the postseason—but his form before the injury was all over the place. He wrapped up the regular season with an 11-7 record and a 3.96 ERA, though his last four starts were rough.

The Brewers are hoping his recovery lines up with the Division Series. They could really use his steadiness in a rotation that’s been anything but steady lately.

Megill’s Recovery from Flexor Strain

All-Star closer Trevor Megill also got on the mound Friday, working an inning’s worth as he tries to bounce back from a right flexor strain that’s kept him out since August 24. The plan is to get him into a real game this weekend, but it all depends on how his arm feels Saturday.

A Bullpen Boost

Megill’s return matters a ton for the back end of the Brewers bullpen. He brings late-game stability and can shut the door in high-pressure spots.

The bullpen has had to stretch without him, so this weekend’s test feels pretty important for figuring out if he’ll be ready for the postseason.

Rotation Concerns Ahead of Division Series

The Brewers have clinched their third straight NL Central crown, but the pitching situation is still up in the air. The rotation took another blow when Brandon Woodruff went down with a right lat strain.

That leaves Freddy Peralta and Quinn Priester as the only confirmed starters for the Division Series opener. Not exactly ideal.

Options Under Consideration

The Brewers have a few pitchers in the mix, but none are sure things:

• Quintana — coming off a calf injury, has to show he can go deep into games
• Jacob Misiorowski — rookie All-Star, still trying to find his groove after his own injury
• Robert Gasser — just made his second appearance since Tommy John surgery

Misiorowski probably won’t start Game 3. The team plans to check him out in a multi-inning relief role, maybe following Gasser this weekend.

This could give the Brewers a way to piece together a solid Game 3 without pushing anyone too hard.

The Postseason Path Forward

Manager Pat Murphy’s playoff plan really depends on who’s healthy and who’s hot. Quintana needs to shake off the rust and find his command again.

For Megill, it’s a race to get back without any setbacks. The bullpen and rotation have to stay flexible, ready for some creative pitching choices if the starters can’t go deep.

Strategic Flexibility Could Be Key

Injuries have shaken up the roster, so the Brewers might need to get creative. That could mean leaning on unconventional matchups, piggyback pitching, and digging deep into the bullpen.

Postseason success usually comes down to how well a team handles adversity. The Brewers, honestly, have plenty of experience navigating pitching chaos.

If Quintana and Megill step up alongside Peralta and Priester, Milwaukee could still put together a strong October run. It’s not out of the question.

Right now, Brewers fans are glued to this weekend, hoping simulated innings finally turn into real playoff outs. Health, timing, and a bit of grit—those just might shape Milwaukee’s postseason in 2024.

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