Shelby Miller Exits With Injury as Brewers Fall to Phillies

The Milwaukee Brewers took another hit to their battered bullpen Monday night, dropping a wild 10-8 game to the Philadelphia Phillies. Veteran reliever Shelby Miller exited early after feeling “something pop” in his elbow, according to manager Pat Murphy.

This injury piles onto a growing list of sidelined Brewers pitchers. The team’s been leaning hard on a tired staff, and you can see the strain. Even with the best record in baseball and a comfy lead in the NL Central, Milwaukee’s depth is under serious pressure as the season heats up.

Shelby Miller’s Injury Further Depletes Brewers’ Bullpen

Coming into Monday, the Brewers were already patching together their bullpen. Miller, a 34-year-old righty with a sharp 2.74 ERA in 48 outings, had just returned from a forearm strain after his trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He was supposed to steady things for the relief corps, but now that plan’s up in the air. Murphy said Miller will get tests to figure out how bad the injury is. For someone with Miller’s mileage, especially after past arm trouble, this could be a big deal for both the Brewers’ playoff hopes and his own career.

Mounting Injuries Create Pressure on Depth

The Brewers’ bullpen is running thin, with several key arms out:

• Trevor Megill – Flexor strain
• DL Hall – Oblique injury
• Grant Anderson – Ankle issue

Each missing pitcher means more work for whoever’s left. And with a brutal stretch of 19 games in 18 days, it’s no wonder everyone looks gassed.

A Game That Got Away

Milwaukee actually jumped out to big leads, going up 4-0 and then 5-1. Those were the largest advantages they’ve blown all year. Rookie starter Jacob Misiorowski did his part, holding the Phillies to one run over 4⅓ innings.

Then the bullpen faltered. Brewers relievers gave up three runs in the sixth, two in the eighth, and another pair in the ninth. The ninth inning opened with a controversial checked-swing call on Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto that went Philly’s way. Murphy argued and got tossed, leaving his guys to finish the tense final moments without him.

The Ninth-Inning Turning Point

Right after Murphy’s ejection, the Phillies pounced. Outfielder Brandon Marsh ripped a go-ahead RBI single, finishing off Philadelphia’s comeback and handing Milwaukee a tough loss.

The Brewers’ offense did its part, but the bullpen just couldn’t hold it together this time.

Looking Ahead: Rest and Recovery

The Brewers finally get a breather on Tuesday before picking things back up against the first-place Phillies in Milwaukee. That off day really couldn’t come soon enough for this worn-down squad.

They still lead the Chicago Cubs by 5½ games in the NL Central, and their 2024 run is one of baseball’s more surprising stories. But with the bullpen looking so thin, you have to wonder if they can keep this up through the summer and into October. The front office might need to make some tough calls soon—maybe looking for outside help or giving some prospects a shot.

Key Takeaways

• The Brewers’ bullpen depth is in crisis mode after Shelby Miller’s elbow injury.
• Fatigue from a brutal recent schedule has only made those injuries sting more.
• Milwaukee still owns the best record in baseball, but can they actually protect leads now?
• An off day couldn’t come at a better time, giving the team a tiny window to regroup.

Injuries hit every baseball team, but most contenders just can’t survive this much damage in the bullpen. The Brewers have to figure out how to steady their relief pitching fast.

Milwaukee faces the Phillies again soon. All eyes are on the late innings—who’s actually going to take the ball, and can they stop the bleeding?

 
Here is the source article for this story: Brewers’ Miller leaves with injury vs. Phillies