Devin Williams likely to miss Milwaukee Brewers’ postseason run after reliever ‘punched a wall’
Milwaukee will most likely be without top setup reliever Devin Williams for the playoffs after the right-hander fractured his throwing hand hitting a wall after a few beers after the Brewers’ National League Central division title-clinching game on Sunday.
Williams will have surgery to place a plate in his hand to fix the fracture,
and the injury will likely keep him out for the rest of the season, according to President of Baseball Operations David Stearns.
“I went out to have a few beers and [at] my house I was a bit angry, upset,
and I hit a wall,” Williams told local media after the team celebration. That’s how it went down.”
Williams, who won the National League Rookie of the Year award last season, is 8-2 with a 2.50 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 54 innings.
He has helped the Brewers put together arguably the greatest late-game combo in the majors by setting up Josh Hader.
When leading after seven innings, the Brewers are 70-4.
“I’m furious with myself.” “I’m the only one to blame,” Williams said. “I feel like I’ve let everyone down,
including the squad, the coaching staff,
and the fans.” I understand how important my position is on this team, and I understand that a lot of people are depending on me.”
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Williams, who had been out with a calf injury, pitched a spotless eighth inning in the Brewers’ 8-4 win against the Mets on Sunday, striking out all three hitters he saw.
He actually dressed for Tuesday’s game against the Cardinals before telling the team’s medical personnel about his hand injury when he couldn’t throw.
He came in and informed our medical team. “We had him X-rayed during the game yesterday,
received the findings during the game yesterday, spoke to our physicians today,
and we realize that surgery will be necessary,” Stearns said.
The Brewers are in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.
They were swept in the first round by the Dodgers last season after losing in the NL Championship Series to the Dodgers in 2018.
They also fell in the wild-card game to the Nationals in 2019.
Milwaukee’s bullpen is strong and has the eighth-lowest ERA in the majors,
but manager Craig Counsell will have to make some changes going into the playoffs.
Hader hasn’t thrown more than one inning in any of his starts this season,
so Counsell will be looking for him to pitch longer innings.
Next in line for setup chores are veterans Brad Boxberger (3.41 ERA) and Brent Suter (3.04).
After the Brewers beat the Cardinals on Wednesday night,
first baseman Daniel Vogelbach discussed the issue and expressed his support for Williams.
“It’s not something you expect to hear,” Vogelbach said, “but good for him for standing up.”
“To be able to get up and speak about it, acknowledge it, and talk to you guys about it, it takes a man.
” That’s fantastic. Everyone makes errors, and it’s easy to point fingers,
but I believe we’ve done a good job of picking each other up this year.”
With Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta leading the rotation,
right-hander Adrian Houser (3.34 ERA) or left-hander Eric Lauer (2.93 ERA) may potentially go to the bullpen.
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