Can Hernán Pérez provide what Orlando Arcia hasn't? 'We'll give it a shot.'

The quest to generate some offense at shortstop continued Sunday, with Hernán Pérez getting his first start of the season in the Milwaukee Brewers' series finale with the Philadelphia Phillies at Miller Park.

Pérez came to the major leagues as a shortstop but has since carved out a niche with the Brewers as a highly versatile utility man, with 27 starts spread over five positions – second base, third base, left field, center field and right field – this season.

With Orlando Arcia emerging as the team's regular at shortstop since making his major-league debut in August of 2016, Pérez has seen only sporadic time there since. His last start prior to Sunday came May 6 of last year, and he'd played six innings at shortstop spread over two games this season.

But with Arcia hitting .204 and slugging .265, Pérez got the nod. The Brewers came into Sunday with Arcia, Eric Sogard and Tyler Saladino combining to give them the worst OPS in the majors at shortstop at a collective .510.  

THE GAME:5 Takeaways | Box score

ANALYSIS:What's with the rough starts? Chase Anderson wishes he knew.

MLB:Live scoreboard, box scores, standings, statistics

"I think he's been swinging the bat pretty well, so we'll give it a shot," manager Craig Counsell said of Pérez. "He's more than capable of it. He'll catch the balls hit to him and make the plays. At times we may take a look at this."

Arcia never got going at the plate this season, with his high-water mark a .229 average May 4. After dropping to .194 on May 24 he was optioned to Class AAA Colorado Springs with the hope of getting him going with the bat.

Saladino took over the job at shortstop and was providing a spark offensively when he suffered a sprained left ankle and landed on the disabled list May 30. Arcia was recalled after getting only 15 at-bats with the Sky Sox, and he's hitting .238 with two runs batted in since returning.

Arcia's high-level defense – his 10 defensive runs saved ties him for fifth-most in the majors with, among others, teammate Lorenzo Cain – still merits him receiving the lion's share of playing time at shortstop, Counsell says.

"I'm going to tell you still that I think Arcia is the best option there and the guy that is preferable to get going and to be the guy that's going to be out there every single day," Counsell said. "We'll continue to try to find ways to help Orlando get on track, and I think there will be times and matchups where we've got to take a chance at something a little different and with trying to get some offense and sacrificing some defense."

After his own slow start at the plate, Pérez collected six hits in the series – including two doubles Sunday – to up his season average to .273. He also has four homers and 14 RBI.

Bullpen shuffle: The Brewers continued their here-today-gone-tomorrow approach in the bullpen by optioning Jorge López to Colorado Springs before the game and recalling right-hander Adrian Houser.

López pitched the final two innings of Milwaukee's 4-1 loss on Saturday, making him the odd man out Sunday as the team dipped into the minors for another fresh arm.

"They've done a very nice job," Counsell said, referring to the group of pitchers that's ridden the Colorado Springs shuttle this season.

"Every time we've asked them, it's often been a multiple-inning appearance, they've kind of completed the job and done it well. Lopez, Houser, Alec Asher did it, Brandon Woodruff's done it. I'm probably forgotten somebody but we've had a number of guys who have done well.

"They know what's happening. They're kind of sharing a roster spot, almost. So they know they're going to be back."

Houser is in his third stint with the Brewers this season, and it's likely to be another short one as the team announced Freddy Peralta will be starting Tuesday's game in Pittsburgh.

He did pitch Sunday, allowing two hits and a run, but it was a rough outing as the game had to be delayed twice after he vomited behind the mound.

"I got it all out," Houser joked afterward. His day started at 5 a.m., then he flew into  Chicago and drove to Milwaukee. He arrived at Miller Park about 30 minutes before first pitch.

“I think it was a little combination of traveling this morning and not having a lot of food in me. I was trying to stay hydrated in the bullpen, and got ready pretty quick. It’s pretty hot here compared to Colorado Springs, so I think it just got all combined and got me.”

Counsell and the Brewers' athletic training staff kept a close eye on Houser throughout.

"Adrian was completely fine," said Counsell. "It was like he was just trying to get that (vomiting) part over with. There was no panic in his eyes, nothing wrong with the way he was talking, he wasn't struggling at all. It was just kind of a combination of all those factors.

"He was fine once he sat down. Everything was good."