Freddy Peralta pitching this year is 'absolutely' in the plans for the Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers are working through so many injuries to their pitching staff that even their manager has a tough time keeping all of the various timelines straight.

Freddy Peralta, Eric Lauer, Aaron Ashby and Matt Bush are all critical arms attempting to make their way back to the mound before the season ends in just over two weeks.

Saturday afternoon was a busy day in terms of the rehab for each of them as Lauer and Bush threw bullpens and Peralta threw in the outfield prior to that night’s game against the New York Yankees.

It’s a lot to keep track of, to be fair.

“I don’t know if it’s the first day (of him throwing),” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “I’ve got three calendars going. Sorry.”

There may be a lot going on in the trainer’s room for the Brewers, but the latest news is all positive.

Status various for injured Milwaukee Brewers pitchers 

Lauer (left forearm) threw a 30-pitch bullpen Saturday and reported positive returns. He is on track to be the first of the three injured starters to return, likely needing another bullpen or two, but said he wants to be a full go when he returns.

“I’d prefer to go full-bore right away,” Lauer said. “We’ll see what I can do. Conditioning-wise, I’m all good. I didn’t need to make up any ground after getting hurt. I should be able to go and throw 100 pitches.”

One-hundred pitches may be a bit too aspirational, Counsell indicated, but the Brewers don’t plan on having to place too many restraints on Lauer’s pitch count.

“I don’t know about full (workload) but I don’t think we have to take a big step back,” he said. “I think we’ll have to read it a little bit. I think we’ll take a small step back but I don’t think we have to go into it with big limits on him.”

Ashby, out since Aug. 19 with a left shoulder injury, threw a bullpen of 25 to 30 pitches Friday and has an intensive bullpen on Monday featuring one “up-down” in which he simulates sitting down between innings before going back and throwing again.

The Brewers plan to utilize Ashby in shorter stints out of the bullpen upon his return.

As for Peralta, his timeline to return remains more unclear than the others as he battles back from right shoulder issues. After being removed from his last start on Sept. 8, Peralta indicated he expected “100%” to return before the end of the season, something Counsell confirmed Saturday.

“We’re absolutely planning on Freddy pitching this year,” he said.

Bush, who exited after facing three batters Tuesday with a groin strain, was scheduled to throw a bullpen Saturday and if it went well, would potentially be available as soon as Sunday.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers injury updates to Freddy Peralta, Eric Lauer and Aaron Ashby