The Brewers have designated veteran left-hander Dallas Keuchel for project, based on MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel went on to relay that right-hander Joel Kuhnel has had his contract chosen and can take Keuchel’s place on the 40-man and lively rosters.
Keuchel, 36, was acquired by Milwaukee in a commerce with the Mariners late final month whereas the veteran southpaw was on a minor league cope with Seattle. He was added to the Brewers’ roster shortly thereafter and ended up making 4 begins for the membership. He posted a 5.40 ERA with simply 11 strikeouts in opposition to eight walks in his 16 2/3 innings of labor for the membership, and yesterday surrendered three runs on eight hits in simply three innings of labor in a begin in opposition to the Nationals. The Brewers will now have seven days to both work out a commerce involving Keuchel or try and go him by way of waivers. The 13-year MLB veteran has greater than sufficient service time to reject an outright project and return to free company after clearing waivers, if he so chooses.
Whereas the veteran struggled throughout his time in Milwaukee, it’s definitely potential that his time within the Mariners’ system may get him one other take a look at the large league stage with a pitching-hungry membership. In spite of everything, the lefty posted a stable 3.93 ERA in 13 begins that turns into much more spectacular when you think about the truth that he was pitching within the inflated offensive setting of Triple-A’s Pacific Coast League. Whereas he struck out simply 15.6% of opponents in these video games, his capacity to generate grounders was as spectacular as ever as he posted a 59.5% groundball fee. With golf equipment across the sport within the hunt for beginning pitching previous to the deadline and few clear sellers, it’s at the least possible {that a} crew in want of pitching may give Keuchel a take care of the approaching All Star break in hopes he may present depth within the occasion they’re unable to land a extra impactful arm.
As for Kuhnel, the 29-year-old first made his large league debut 2019 and has pitched in elements of 5 MLB seasons at this level, although his solely prolonged alternative got here with Cincinnati again in 2022. The outcomes left a lot to be desired, as Kuhnel posting a 6.36 ERA in 58 innings of labor that was 31% worse than league common by ERA+. Regardless of that, underlying metrics truly thought the righty pitched pretty nicely that yr as his FIP, xFIP, xERA, and SIERA had been all higher than common due to his stable 22% strikeout fee, a superb 5.5% stroll fee, and an above-average 52.2% groundball fee.
These stable peripheral numbers haven’t sufficient to get him constant work within the years since then, nevertheless, as he’s pitched simply 15 innings within the large leagues for the reason that begin of the 2023 season. These restricted alternatives usually haven’t gone nicely, as Kuhnel has posted a ghastly 7.20 ERA and a 5.84 FIP in that restricted large league enjoying time. Even so, each the Blue Jays and Brewers have added Kuhnel to their 40-man roster this yr after he was designated for project by the Astros early within the season. He’s but to seem within the large leagues with both of these golf equipment, though now he’ll get the chance to do with with Milwaukee after having his contract chosen by the Brewers for the second time this yr. The righty’s numbers on the Triple-A stage have been wonderful this yr, as he’s posted a 2.30 ERA in 27 1/3 innings of labor regardless of a lackluster 15% strikeout fee.
