MILWAUKEE -- Instead of summoning a pitcher from the minor leagues or the bullpen, the Milwaukee Brewers will bump Mike Fiers up to fill Wily Peralta's scheduled start Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants.
Fiers will be pitching on just three days' rest after going five innings in Milwaukee's 3-2 loss in Atlanta on Saturday.
"I don't think it is a big deal for me," Fiers said. "I didn't throw as many pitches as I usually do in a start (last time out). I don't think it is any more stressful than a regular start. I'm fine with it. The team needs me to go. I'll be ready to go."
After Peralta was placed on the disabled list Sunday with a strained left oblique, Brewers manager Craig Counsell said the club was deciding between long reliever Michael Blazek or Fiers to fill Wednesday's start.
The Brewers opted to go with Fiers on short rest over Blazek, who is 4-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 22 2/3 innings over 18 relief appearances this season.
"We thought Mike (Fiers) could give us better length in the game, and Mike (Blazek) will obviously be available to pitch," Counsell said. "He might throw a bunch of innings (Wednesday), but he's available (Tuesday) as well. Just more flexibility if I want to use him."
Fiers threw just 86 pitches against the Braves on Saturday because his spot in the lineup came up in the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded and one out of a 2-2 game.
The only hesitancy the right-hander had about accepting the club's request to pitch on short rest was because of an illness he pitched through in Atlanta.
"They asked me if I could," Fiers said. "I told them to give me a day, because I was sick in Atlanta. I pitched sick there and now I'm pitching on short rest. But I feel fine and I'm ready to give the team what it needs."
With Peralta expected to miss four to six weeks, Counsell said a permanent rotation replacement would come from the minor leagues.
According to Counsell, Jimmy Nelson will start Friday and Kyle Lohse on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The replacement pitcher could slot into Milwaukee's rotation as early as Sunday to give Matt Garza an extra day of rest.
"We're kind of debating what order we're going to put (the replacement pitcher) in, whether we're going to get some guys an extra day, things like that," Counsell said. "That will be decided (Wednesday)."
Lucroy heading out: Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with High-A Brevard County.
Lucroy will play through the weekend with the Manatees before joining the Brewers in St. Louis. If all goes according to plan, the All-Star catcher will be in the lineup for the series opener with the Cardinals on Monday night.
"I'm excited," Lucroy said. "Being on the DL is terrible. It is nice to be able to get back on the field and get back to doing my job."
Lucroy did defensive work and ran the bases with no issue Tuesday. He has recently been able to catch bullpens on his fractured left big toe, leaving live at-bats as the final hurdle in the way of a return.
A definitive plan for how much Lucroy will catch this weekend has yet to be determined. The Florida State League uses the designated hitter, which could provide Lucroy an opportunity to get at-bats without catching four days in a row.
"We're still talking with the trainers," Lucroy said. "Talking to Couns too, we'll see what they want me to do. They don't want me to burn out the first day. Since I've been catching for a while, I think the at-bats are more important than getting nine innings behind the plate.
"Catching, you can pretty much simulate everything live. Hitting is different."
Lucroy's parents live in Orlando, which is roughly an hour away from where the Manatees play in Viera, Fla.
They will be able to watch Brevard County play before heading to Miami, where Lucroy's younger brother, David, will be pitching for East Carolina in an NCAA regional.
"They are going to go see him on the weekend," Lucroy said. "Maybe they will catch me on Thursday or Friday or something. He threw (in the American Conference tournament) on ESPNU the other day against Houston. My parents will hit me on the way down and then see him in Miami."
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