Losers of five straight games, the Milwaukee Brewers will now be without one of their key hitters for at least a month. On Tuesday, they placed outfielder/designated hitter Christian Yelich on the injured list with a Grade 2 groin strain that is likely to keep the veteran out until mid- to late-May. The Brewers will also be without star outfielder Jackson Chourio, whose timetable for return from a broken hand has been pushed back to early May.
Yelich was injured during the Brewers’ 8-6 loss to the Washington Nationals on Sunday. The 34-year-old was off to a strong start, batting .314/.375/.451 in 15 games. His absence further thins a Brewers’ lineup that has been without Chourio since the start of the season. Chourio suffered a fractured hand just before Opening Day, and the initial range for his return was two to four weeks. On Tuesday, the team updated that timetable, saying that Chourio won’t return until May at the earliest and that, while the fracture has been healing, he has yet to be cleared to swing a bat.
Yelich was replaced on the roster by Greg Jones, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Nashville. Jones, who can play shortstop, second base and all three outfield positions, was batting .317/.462/.390 in 13 games for the Sounds. Left-hander Rob Zastryzny was moved to the 60-day injured list to make room for Jones on the 40-man roster.
Yelich’s injury is the latest bad news for a team that got off to a fast start but has seen its record drop from 8-2 to 8-7 during its current five-game losing streak. In addition to Yelich and Chourio, Milwaukee is without starter Quinn Priester (nerve issue), relievers Jared Koenig (elbow strain), Craig Yoho (calf strain) and Zastryzny (shoulder and rib strains), and first baseman Andrew Vaughn (hamate injury). Priester is nearing a rehab assignment, but Vaughn isn’t likely to return until late May.
The Brewers did receive some good injury news last week when left-hander Kyle Harrison’s imaging came back clean after he was hit in the kneecap by a throw and fell on his wrist Saturday. They also learned that Koenig’s sprained left elbow ligament doesn’t require surgery for the moment, and he will rehab in an attempt to return this season.
Milwaukee begins a three-game series at home versus the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, with Jacob Misiorowski set to start for the Brewers. Right-hander Brandon Sproat, who is dealing with knee soreness, is currently scheduled to start the series finale Thursday.