Notes: Orlando Arcia's ankle is feeling better, but Brewers will take it slow

Tom Haudricourt
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia takes a knee after injuring his right ankle Friday night.

Shortstop Orlando Arcia was upbeat Saturday about how his right ankle felt after he sprained it during the game Friday night, but the Milwaukee Brewers' bosses were being cautious about his status.

“It’s a good sign (that he feels better),” manager Craig Counsell said. “We’ll stay away from him today and then reassess him on a daily basis. The off-day (Monday) is obviously important.

“I don’t think we’re completely out of the woods with it, but we’ll give him at least today and see how we’re doing going into that off-day. He’s not playing today, so that means we’ve got an injured player. We’re going to give it a day or two and see how he progresses to see if he’s going to be ready for the Kansas City series.”

The Brewers open a two-game series in Kansas City on Tuesday after the day off, the start of a nine-game trip that includes four games in Chicago against the Cubs and three in Cincinnati. General manager David Stearns confirmed that the team would have to feel Arcia could play against the Royals to keep him on the active roster.

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“We’re hoping it’s not going to be a DL situation but we’ll wait until Monday and see how he’s doing,” Stearns said.

Arcia jammed his right ankle into the bag at first base in the eighth inning of the game against Miami when catcher J.T. Realmuto threw behind him after a base hit. It’s the same ankle Arcia fractured during an extended spring training game in April 2012, forcing him to miss that entire season, so at first he had real concern.

“I’d broken that foot in the past, so it could be worse,” Arcia said through translator Carlos Brizuela. “I just hope I can recover quick.”

Eric Sogard started in Arcia’s place at shortstop Saturday night.

Others making progress: There was encouraging news on the injury front with other players, including a surprising development with closer Corey Knebel, who threw his first bullpen session 16 days after suffering a severe hamstring strain pitching against the Cubs.

The initial prognosis for Knebel was an absence of four to six weeks and now he has a chance to come in on the low end of that period, though Counsell made it clear the team would be deliberate at this phase of the rehab process.

“Corey is ready to go up on a mound probably faster than we thought,” Counsell said. “He will throw more bullpens because this is how the injury happened (pitching). So, we’ll go a little slower in this segment of it."

Reliever Boone Logan, who began the year on the disabled list after suffering a triceps strain in camp, also had an encouraging bullpen session, his second during the rehab process. The plan is for Logan to throw in simulated action Tuesday in Kansas City, then head out on minor-league rehab assignment if that goes well.

“I’ll probably have to pitch three or four (times in the minors),” Logan said. “They’ll want me to go back-to-back (appearances) before activating me. Hopefully, I’ll be back that first week in May.”

Catcher Stephen Vogt continues to make progress in his rehab from a shoulder strain that also landed him on the DL to start the season. Vogt is throwing from longer distances without discomfort and should be ready to make throws from behind the plate soon.

“He’s got a big week, next week,” Counsell said. “I think he can move pretty quick next week. Then, it’s possible we start another phase of this. As we get on the road, we can get to another phase of it.”

Catcher Manny Piña, on the DL with a calf strain, is the closest to being activated. He is eligible to come off the DL on Monday and will give the leg another stiff test Sunday by running the bases at full-go.

"Manny's doing pretty well," Stearns said. "He has the potential to be activated on Tuesday."

Left-hander Wade Miley, who was on the verge of making the starting rotation before suffering a groin strain near the end of camp, will make his second minor-league rehab start Sunday for Class AA Biloxi. Stearns said Miley would make one more appearance after that before it becomes time to decide whether to add him to the Brewers’ roster. If not, the agreement is that Miley can become a free agent.

“We want to get him to the 85-90 pitch mark,” Stearns said. “He would pitch again next Friday. We want to get Wade healthy and pitching well, and he wants to be healthy and pitching well. Everyone’s incentives are aligned here. Let’s get to the point where there are decisions to be made.”