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04-21-2004, 05:45 AM
<b>Pitchers shift spots after Capuano's injury</b>
To accommodate the strained left thigh suffered by left-hander Chris Capuano in his start Sunday in Houston, the Brewers have realigned their starting rotation for the week.
Right-hander Wes Obermueller, who pitched two innings in relief of Capuano against the Astros, will start Thursday against Arizona. Matt Kinney, who was in danger of losing his rotation spot before Capuano was injured, will go Friday against St. Louis.
The Brewers are hoping Capuano's injury will heal in time for him to pitch Saturday against the Cardinals, but that is a 50-50 proposition at best. The real test will come when he tries to throw a bullpen session on Thursday.
"We're taking it day by day right now," Capuano said. "If I feel anything at all on Thursday, I'll probably skip a start. I played catch today and it felt pretty good."
If Capuano is unable to pitch Saturday, the Brewers probably will pull a middle reliever out of the bullpen to face St. Louis. Because of off days, they don't need a fifth starter again for a couple of weeks, so it doesn't make a lot of sense to call up a pitcher from Class AAA Indianapolis, unless the bullpen is strapped.
Middle relievers Ben Ford, Dave Burba and Adrian Hernandez all have experience as starting pitchers.
"We won't take any chances (with Capuano)," manager Ned Yost said. "If he feels anything, we'll do something else."
Yost could have gone with Kinney on Wednesday but is trying to get him squared away after two horrible starts (81/3 innings, 12 hits, 13 runs). Kinney pitched well in his first start of the season in St. Louis (six innings, three runs) and Yost is hoping he'll repeat that performance.
"Those are better match-ups," Yost said. "We feel Matt matches up better against the Cardinals."
To accommodate the strained left thigh suffered by left-hander Chris Capuano in his start Sunday in Houston, the Brewers have realigned their starting rotation for the week.
Right-hander Wes Obermueller, who pitched two innings in relief of Capuano against the Astros, will start Thursday against Arizona. Matt Kinney, who was in danger of losing his rotation spot before Capuano was injured, will go Friday against St. Louis.
The Brewers are hoping Capuano's injury will heal in time for him to pitch Saturday against the Cardinals, but that is a 50-50 proposition at best. The real test will come when he tries to throw a bullpen session on Thursday.
"We're taking it day by day right now," Capuano said. "If I feel anything at all on Thursday, I'll probably skip a start. I played catch today and it felt pretty good."
If Capuano is unable to pitch Saturday, the Brewers probably will pull a middle reliever out of the bullpen to face St. Louis. Because of off days, they don't need a fifth starter again for a couple of weeks, so it doesn't make a lot of sense to call up a pitcher from Class AAA Indianapolis, unless the bullpen is strapped.
Middle relievers Ben Ford, Dave Burba and Adrian Hernandez all have experience as starting pitchers.
"We won't take any chances (with Capuano)," manager Ned Yost said. "If he feels anything, we'll do something else."
Yost could have gone with Kinney on Wednesday but is trying to get him squared away after two horrible starts (81/3 innings, 12 hits, 13 runs). Kinney pitched well in his first start of the season in St. Louis (six innings, three runs) and Yost is hoping he'll repeat that performance.
"Those are better match-ups," Yost said. "We feel Matt matches up better against the Cardinals."