Brewers Friday: Wily Peralta throws 'outstanding' bullpen session
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Wily Peralta threw a bullpen session Friday, as the club still hasn't decided whether he'll make his scheduled start Sunday against the Mets due to a left hamstring strain.
"It was outstanding," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said of Peralta's bullpen session. "I know you can't simulate 100 percent like you do in the game, but he really got after it and was really good with the hamstring."
Peralta left Tuesday's start against Washington in the bottom of the sixth inning with a left hamstring strain, ending one his best starts of the season earlier than expected.
Going toe-to-toe with Nationals ace right-hander Stephen Strasburg through five innings, Peralta was forced to leave after retiring Bryce Harper on a bunt ground out to start the sixth inning with the score tied at 0-0.
Brewers general manager Doug Melvin was scheduled to meet with Roenicke after batting practice Friday to determine if Peralta will start Sunday, be bumped back a few days or if his turn in the rotation will be skipped completely.
If Peralta can't start Sunday, right-hander Tyler Thornburg would likely start in his place.
Injury update: Right-hander Alfredo Figaro's right oblique strain is progressing nicely, and he could return for the Arizona series before the All-Star break, according to Roenicke.
Figaro, who went on the disabled list June 25, has been rehabbing at Milwaukee's spring training facility in Arizona while the Brewers have been on the road.
Also rehabbing in Arizona, right-hander Marco Estrada is coming along much slower in his attempt to return from a left hamstring strain. While Figaro could return before the All-Star break, Estrada will not.
"He's fine when he goes down and plays his long toss, but then comes in and throws a bullpen and still feels it on his off-speed pitches," Roenicke said. "So I don't know how much longer. We'll just keep doing it until he doesn't have that feeling, and then we'll talk about a rehab assignment."
Extended break for Ramirez? Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez has battled a left knee injury for most of the season and could get an extended All-Star break to gear up for the second half.
Roenicke said the team has discussed a plan that would give Ramirez a few days off prior to the break in an attempt to get the knee ready to go for the second half of the season. Nothing has been finalized, but discussions with the training staff and Ramirez will occur in the coming days.
"We have an opportunity with the All-Star break to maybe do some things to help him out more, and we're discussing that," Roenicke said. "That would mean maybe there's a couple days or something before that I can give him off and maybe try and lengthen out that period.
"We're going to try to get it to where in the second half it won't be so much of an issue."
Ramirez initially sprained his left knee in spring training and re-sprained the knee sliding into second base during the first week of the season. He returned from the disabled list May 3, but has had to have his playing time monitored ever since.
Hitting .277 with five home runs and 25 RBI, Ramirez's power and ability to drive the baseball has been impacted by the pain in his knee.
"He's getting a little better because he can play more days in a row now," Roenicke said. "That doesn't necessarily mean he feels better out there, but it is getting a little better. That's why I've been able to play him sometimes four days in a row, sometimes five. We'll continue to do that."
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