After blowing three of his last four save opportunities, Milwaukee Brewers All-Star closer Trevor Megill landed on the 15-day IL Wednesday. The team announced that he has a flexor strain in his right arm and that his designation is retroactive to Monday.
The Brewers currently boast a 6 1/2-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central, and their 83 wins are at least five more than every other team in the majors.
But, as they try to close out the division and the top spot in the NL playoff field, they'll have to overcome a stretch without one of the best closers in baseball this season. Even with his recent struggles, Megill is tied for third in MLB with 30 saves.
Megill's 99.2 mph average fastball velocity is in the 98th percentile of major-league pitchers, according to MLB.com, which also charted his 30.7% strikeout rate in the 91st percentile.
The 31-year-old righty has registered a 2.54 ERA this season while recording 58 Ks and issuing only 17 walks. He's the cherry on top of a strong and deep Brewers bullpen that has helped them post a blistering 44-15 record since June 19.
As mentioned above, though, Megill didn't have his best stuff of late, and his injury explains the sudden drop-off in reliability this month.
Over his past four appearances, he allowed four runs, three of which were earned, and seven hits. He last took the mound on Sunday when he tied a single-game season high with 34 pitches during a 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants. In the process, he conceded a leadoff double, a one-out single and a two-out single that drove in the game-tying run and game-winning run.
Although Megill has notched just one save in his last four chances, the Brewers have lost only one of those outings.
This Milwaukee team is resilient. Its latest hurdle is Megill's absence as the calendar turns to September.
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