JUST IN: Brewers Righty Talented star Starter Suffers Back Injury In Loss To Marlins

Just as the Milwaukee Brewers’ injury-plagued starting rotation appeared to be making progress, a harsh reality set in once again when right-hander Joe Ross had to exit Milwaukee’s 3-2 defeat to the Miami Marlins on Monday night after just one inning due to back issues. Ross revealed that his back had been troubling him for a few days, but he had been trying to avoid missing a start or joining the growing list of Brewers pitchers on the injured list. Despite completing the first inning with only 15 pitches, his condition worsened after hustling to cover first base during an inning-ending double play.

“We were trying to manage it, doing some things to alleviate the discomfort,” Ross explained. “However, I believe the slope of the mound was exacerbating the issue a bit. My arm felt fine, but my back started acting up in the first inning. I informed them that I wasn’t feeling great but could continue, yet they decided it was best to end my outing.”

The initial assessment pointed to a lower back strain, with manager Pat Murphy indicating that this could lead to a stint on the injured list.

“He expressed that he wasn’t feeling well,” Murphy stated. “He said, ‘I can go back out there if you want me to, but I’m not feeling great. I’m not sure I can continue.’ So we felt it was in his best interest to remove him from the game.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy spoke about Joe Ross' injury and the effort from the bullpen in the tough loss to Miami.#ThisIsMyCrew | #MLB pic.twitter.com/RU7nYMqqTJ

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Joe Ross experienced a setback in the Milwaukee Brewers’ recent defeat due to a back injury, disrupting his journey back to form. Despite his resilient comeback efforts, Ross had to exit the game early, highlighting the challenges he faces in regaining his pitching prowess amidst this injury setback.

Monday’s game was Joe Ross’s ninth start of the season. Ross, who inked a one-year deal worth $1.75 million in December, returned to the field after a two-year hiatus due to his second Tommy John surgery. Initially, he struggled with rust, evident in his 5.40 ERA across his first five starts. However, he had been demonstrating improvement, with a 3.38 ERA in his most recent three appearances, indicating a positive trend in his performance.

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The Milwaukee Brewers were counting on their deep pitching depth to help them overcome the losses of former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes, who was traded to the Baltimore Orioles just before spring training, and Brandon Woodruff, who is out for the year after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. However, less than two months into the season, the Brewers have already lost three of the five members of their Opening Day rotation.

In addition to Joe Ross’ recent back injury, the Brewers are also without right-handers Jakob Junis (neck) and DL Hall (knee). While Hall has just begun a rehab assignment and is expected to return soon, the team suffered a significant blow when veteran left-hander Wade Miley was lost for the season due to a torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery.

The rash of injuries has forced the Brewers to make adjustments, moving Bryse Wilson into a starting role after he opened the season in the bullpen. Additionally, right-hander Tobias Myers and left-hander Robert Gasser both made their MLB debuts when the Brewers needed to fill the gaps in their rotation due to the mounting injuries.