NL Central Notes: Contreras, Edman, Pirates, Bukauskas

William Contreras underwent concussion testing following the Brewers’ 5-4 win over the Reds as we speak, after the star catcher was concerned with a collision with Stuart Fairchild on the sport’s closing play.  Fairchild was thrown out at dwelling plate attempting to attain from second base on a Santiago Espinal single, and Contreras was down on the bottom for a couple of moments after being clipped by Fairchild’s forearm.

Placement on the concussion-related injured checklist would preserve Contreras out of motion for no less than seven days, although it isn’t but clear if an IL stint is into consideration.  It in all probability appears probably that he received’t be in Monday’s lineup for precautionary causes, and the Brewers can solely hope that the star catcher has averted any type of head damage.  Contreras had two extra hits as we speak to lift his season-long slash line to .305/.367/.467 over 316 plate appearances, for an impressive 137 wRC+ and a pair of.6 fWAR (seventeenth in all of baseball).

Extra from across the NL Central…

• From one Contreras brother to a different, as Willson Contreras’ speedy restoration from forearm surgical procedure may take one other fast step with a minor league rehab task.  Cardinals supervisor Oliver Marmol advised Jeff Jones of the Belleville Information-Democrat (links to X) and different reporters that Contreras may start play at one of many group’s associates as early as Tuesday, if not essentially Triple-A Memphis.  Contreras hasn’t performed since Might 7 when his left forearm was fractured by a J.D. Martinez swing, and he has made exceptional progress contemplating the 10-week timeline initially projected after his surgical procedure.  The catcher has already been collaborating in baseball actions for over every week.
• In different Cardinals damage information, Tommy Edman appears to be closing in on his first sport motion of the season, because the utiltyman is shifting his rehab work to the group’s Spring Coaching complicated in Jupiter, Florida.  Edman had arthroscopic wrist surgical procedure final October, and his restoration has been slowed by continued discomfort in his wrist.  In the present day’s information is an efficient signal that Edman is lastly beginning to ramp up, even when a prolonged rehab course of will nonetheless be wanted after lacking a lot time.
• Whereas the Pirates haven’t gotten a lot from their aid corps this season, GM Ben Cherington mentioned the group received’t change its lower-cost method to discovering bullpen assist.  In his weekly radio look on 93.7FM (hat tip to Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), mentioned “we’re going to maintain taking photographs on less-proven guys who’ve pitch qualities that we imagine can translate to main league success…and over time, we’re gonna hit on sufficient of these and it’s gonna add as much as bullpen.”  These pitchers might come from each exterior the group and from inside Pittsburgh’s personal farm system.  If Cherington’s techniques appear restricted, it needs to be famous that just about each group in baseball tries the identical strategies, given how reliever efficiency can range so tremendously from season to season and the way unheralded pitchers emerge each season to grow to be ace bullpen arms.  This previous winter truly noticed the Bucs deviate from their common plan by signing Aroldis Chapman to a one-year, $10.5MM deal, although Chapman’s shaky efficiency has led to a whole lot of second-guessing on that acquisition.
• Circling again to the Brewers for the ultimate merchandise, supervisor Pat Murphy advised reporters (together with Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) that JB Bukauskas will endure an MRI after struggling a setback.  Bukauskas has been out since mid-April as a result of a lat pressure, and pitched in his first rehab outing final Thursday however emerged with continued soreness.  Bukauskas has been within the Brewers’ group since being claimed off the Mariners’ waiver wire in April 2023, although he has battled a number of accidents throughout his time in Milwaukee.