Brewers pitcher Adrian Houser exits spring training game with injury

PHOENIX – Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Adrian Houser left his outing Saturday against the Oakland Athletics at Hohokam Stadium with groin tightness, adding some unknown into the team's bullpen picture with opening day around the corner.

The 30-year-old right-hander went on the injured list last September with the same injury and it flared up on him earlier this spring training.

"That’s why we backed him off a couple days earlier, just being extra cautious earlier this spring," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "We moved him back a couple days.

"It hasn’t gotten bad, but it’s just gotten to the point of some tightness a couple of times where it’s caused us caution once and caused us to take him out of the game today. We’ll have to see how he is over the next couple of days and see where we’re at."

The Brewers will evaluate Houser further Sunday to determine whether an injured list stint is needed or not.

Houser was projected to work a pivotal role in the bullpen to begin the season with his ability to go multiple innings. A trip to the injured list would open the door for another reliever on the roster bubble, such as Gus Varland, Joel Payamps or Tyson Miller.

The Brewers open the regular season Thursday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers pitcher Adrian Houser exits spring game with groin injury