Milwaukee Brewers roster moves: Justin Topa placed on 60-day IL, Hoby Milner optioned to Nashville, Jandel Gustave and Miguel Sanchez return

The rough return to the field for Justin Topa hit another major roadbump. After leaving Friday night’s game against the Cardinals injured, the Brewers evaluated him on Saturday and determined he has a signficant injury to his flexor tendon. While the full extent of the damage is not known, it’s significant enough that it will end his season, and the Brewers placed him on the 60-day IL on Saturday.

Topa’s return to the field has been rough this season. He orginally returned on August 12 for the Brewers and pitched against the Cubs, recording a scoreless inning in his return to the field. Two days later, he pitched against the Pirates, and allowed five runs on five hits before being pulled from the game. Topa was optioned to Nashville after that game, and appeared in six games while in the minors. He allowed two runs on three hits in his first game, but had four perfect appearances to follow that, along with one where he allowed a hit and a walk. That was enough to bring him back up when rosters expanded on Wednesday, but he was roughed up again. He allowed two runs on three hits Wednesday against the Giants, and then four runs on four hits Friday against the Cardinals. He came out of that Friday game injured, and that would be the last game of his season. The next steps are unknown right now, but Topa has already undergone two Tommy John surgeries.

Meanwhile, Hoby Milner also was optioned back down to Nashville. Milner had been recalled on August 19 and mostly pitched cleanup in losses. He allowed runs in two of his six appearances since his recall. Overall this season, he has a 5.03 ERA and 5.25 FIP with 26 strikeouts, 28 hits allowed and 3 walks in 19.2 innings pitched.

On the other side, Miguel Sanchez and Jandel Gustave have returned to the team. Gustave has been out since July 31 when he was placed on the IL as a close contact after a positive COVID test. He would later test positive for COVID, and has been out since then recovering. He was sent to Nashville on a rehab assignment on August 25 and is back with the team now. Overall this season, Gustave has not allowed a run in 6 appearances over 7 innings in the majors. He’s struck out four and walked two with three hits allowed. Meanwhile, Sanchez is back after being optioned to Nashville on August 22. He’s made 23 appearances with the Brewers this season, recording a 4.29 ERA and 5.07 FIP with 19 strikeouts and 12 walks over 21 innings.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs.