Brewers might flip to Joe Ross to start out versus Braves

During a flurry of trades and transactions, the Milwaukee Brewers are expected to activate right-hander Joe Ross off the injured list to start Tuesday against the visiting Atlanta Braves.

Ross (2-4, 4.50 ERA) has been sidelined since May 21 with a low back strain.

Right-hander Bryce Elder (1-4, 6.35) is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to start for the Braves, who have lost seven of their last nine games.

The Brewers also could have right-hander Frankie Montas in the rotation mix. Montas (4-8, 5.01) was acquired in a trade with Cincinnati on Monday night, according to multiple media reports. He last started on Wednesday and did not figure into the decision in a 9-4 win over Atlanta.

Willy Adames provided a go-ahead three-run homer to help power the Brewers to an 8-3 comeback victory in the series opener Monday night. Rookie Jackson Chourio had a two-run homer and Rhys Hoskins added a solo shot. The Braves wasted a solid performance by rookie Grant Holmes, who allowed one run on three hits in five innings in his first career start after 10 relief appearances this season.

“We talk about how great the bullpen’s been, and they have been,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “There’s going to be games like that where it gets out of hand.”

Ross, who did not pitch in the majors in 2022 and 2023 following his second Tommy John surgery, would be making his 10th start of the season if activated. He was in the Brewers’ clubhouse before Monday’s game. He is 1-5 with a 6.53 ERA in nine career appearances (eight starts) against Atlanta.

After a one-inning rehab stint at Class-A Wisconsin, Ross has made three starts at Triple-A Nashville, allowing 11 runs on 16 hits (8.25 ERA) in 12 innings.

The Brewers’ bullpen also is in a state of flux. Trevor Megill, who has 20 saves in 22 chances, was placed on the injured list Monday with back discomfort. All-Star closer Devin Williams pitched Sunday for the first time this season after coming off the IL, but the Brewers announced he will not be used in back-to-back games.

Reliever Nick Mears, acquired Saturday from Colorado, pitched a scoreless inning Monday in his Brewers debut.

The 20-year-old Chourio is hitting .324 with 10 doubles, seven homers and 28 RBIs over his last 42 games. Hoskins has just 12 hits in 65 at-bats (.185) in July, but seven of them are homers.

“If you get 12 hits a month, seven homers is good,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “If there’s one homer in 12 hits, then that’s going to be a rough month. But he’s hit so many clutch homers.”

Elder, who was 12-4 with 3.81 ERA in 31 starts last season with Atlanta, has been up-and-down between the Braves and Triple-A this season.

Elder made two starts with Atlanta in July, going 0-1 with 8.10 ERA and allowing nine runs on 12 hits in 10 innings. In his last big league start on July 20 vs. St. Louis, he was tagged for six runs in five innings, but struck out nine.

Elder is 6-3 with a 4.14 ERA in 10 starts with Gwinnett this season.

Marcell Ozuna belted his 31st homer Monday, second-most in the National League behind Shohei Ohtani (32). Orlando Arcia, who also went deep on Monday, is batting .333 over his last 14 games with three homers and seven RBIs.

–Field Level Media