The Brewers have lost 28-year old lefty starter/reliever Manny Parra for the rest of the season due to elbow surgery that he underwent yesterday. Parra pitched in 8 games (1 start) in AAA-ball for the Brewers this year and he was 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Parra has pitched in 110 games (74 starts) in his first four years with the Brewers and he is 24-30 with a 5.13 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. The Brewers probably could have used Parra out of the bullpen in September, but they will have to wait until next year to use him.

The Brewers have placed 29-year old lefty starting pitcher Chris Narveson on the 15-day disabled list due to a left thumb laceration. Narveson has started 23 games for the Brewers so far this year and he is 8-6 with a 4.49 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. 28-year old righty Marco Estrada will likely replace Narveson in the starting rotation. Estrada has pitched in 32 games (4 starts) for the Brewers so far this year and he is 2-7 with a 4.80 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. The Brewers have called up 27-year old righty starter/reliever Eulogio De La Cruz from the minors to replace Narveson on the pitching staff. He has pitched in 25 games (23 starts) in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 7-6 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. De La Cruz hasn’t had much success so far in his major league career. De La Cruz has pitched in 15 games (1 start) in parts of three years in the majors and he is 0-0 with a 11.84 ERA and a 2.53 WHIP.

The Brewers have placed 28-year old righty swinging 2B Rickie Weeks on the 15-day disabled list due to a severely sprained left ankle. Weeks has played in 104 games for the Brewers so far this year and he is 113 of 416 (.272 avg, .825 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 19 homers, 43 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. 40-year old lefty swinging Craig Counsell could see a bump in P.T. before the trade deadline as the Brewers will be on the hunt for a 2B now. Counsell is 0 for his last 38! He has played in 72 games so far this year for the Brewers and he is 17 for 110 (.155 avg, .439 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 0 homers, 4 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Brewers have called up 25-year old righty swinging 2B Eric Farris to replace Weeks on the roster. He came into this season as the Brewers’ #9 prospect according to Baseball America. Farris has played in 98 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 101 for 394 (.256 avg, .665 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 6 homers, 36 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Farris has now played in 458 games in his first 5 years in the minors and he is 524 for 1,822 (.288 avg, .709 OPS) with 255 runs scored, 20 homers, 197 RBIs and 152 stolen bases. I have to think that the Brewers are going to get really agressive in trying to deal for a 2B before the trade deadline coming up this Sunday.

26-year old righty reliever Brandon Kintzler will have surgery next Tuesday to have a screw inserted in his right forearm. The team refuses to say that he will be done for the season. Kintzler has pitched in 9 games (0 starts) for the Brewers so far this year and he is 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has now pitched in 16 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Brewers and he is 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. The Brewers hope to have him back sometime in September.

25-year old righty swinging CF Carlos Gomez broke his left clavicle last night making a outstanding diving catch and he will miss at least the next two months of the season. Gomez has played in 80 games for the Brewers so far this year and he is 46 for 209 (.220 avg, .648 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 6 homers, 19 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. 30-year old lefty swinging Nyjer Morgan will replace Gomez in CF. Morgan has played in 60 games for the Brewers so far this year and he is 62 for 186 (.333 avg, .848 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 3 homers, 22 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Morgan should be an improvement offensively but he’s nowhere near the player Gomez is on defense.