Brewers release Opening Day starter Chacin

Two days after they designated right-hander Jhoulys Chacin for assignment, the Milwaukee Brewers officially released their Opening Day starter on Monday.

The veteran starter succumbed to several injuries this season, most recently a strained lat muscle that has sidelined him for more than a month.

Even with his 2018 struggles (3-10, 5.79 ERA in 19 starts), the Brewers could not afford to wait for him to get healthy down the stretch while chasing a National League wild-card spot. Milwaukee entered Monday two games out in the NL wild-card chase.

Chacin, 31, strained his right lat while batting in a game against the Cincinnati Reds on July 24, and the next day he was placed on the injured list. Chacin had not been expected to return to the Brewers' active roster until mid-September.

Chacin won his first two starts of the season, striking out 13 in a combined 10 2/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds. He allowed three runs or fewer in eight of his first 10 starts but did so in just five of his final nine outing. He completed six innings only four times in 19 starts this season.

The Venezuela native was in the second year of a two-year, $15.5 million deal he signed with the Brewers before the 2018 season. Milwaukee will still be on the hook for his remaining $6 million he is owed.

The 11-year veteran pitched his first six seasons with the Colorado Rockies from 2009-14, but he has bounced around with five teams over the past half-decade. Chacin has also pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks (2015), Atlanta Braves (2016), Los Angeles Angels (2016), San Diego Padres (2017) and Milwaukee.

For his career, he is 77-85 with a 4.00 ERA in 249 appearances (221 starts).

--Field Level Media