The Brewers entered the final stretch with Joey Ortiz’s right knee suddenly becoming the concern in Milwaukee’s infield. Ortiz was sent for an MRI on Saturday after playing through pain against St. Louis, leaving the club to weigh not only a knee issue but lingering oblique soreness and new groin discomfort.
Key takeaways
- Ortiz injured his right knee while chasing a foul ball in Philadelphia on Thursday, when Milwaukee recorded its 100th victory.
- He played Friday after Cooper Pratt was scratched because of illness, but Ortiz left in the eighth inning and was seen limping heavily in the dugout.
- A move to the 10-day injured list would keep Ortiz out for the opening of the NLDS on Oct. 3.
- Jonathan Ornelas was brought in from the organization’s Nashville stay-ready camp as infield insurance, though he was not activated Saturday.
- Since July 4, Ortiz has hit .333/.378/.531 with a .909 OPS across 61 games.
A crowded medical picture at third base
Ortiz’s trouble began Thursday in Philadelphia, where he banged the knee while attempting a play in foul territory. He was originally due for a day off Friday, but Pratt’s illness changed the lineup picture and pushed Ortiz back onto the field against the Cardinals.
He remained in the game until the eighth inning, departing after a sequence in which he was not directly involved. The visible limp in the Milwaukee dugout made clear that the knee was affecting him, and the club ordered the MRI to determine how serious the injury might be.
Manager Pat Murphy’s concern extends beyond the knee. Ortiz has been dealing with oblique discomfort for weeks, and he also informed the club of groin soreness Thursday. With October approaching, Milwaukee must now determine whether rest is enough or whether the injury requires an injured-list move that would sideline him for the Division Series opener.
Ornelas was summoned from Nashville to give the Brewers another available infielder should Ortiz’s examination bring unfavorable news. He remained off the active roster for Saturday’s game against St. Louis.
Ortiz had turned his season around
The timing is especially difficult because Ortiz has been one of Milwaukee’s strongest second-half contributors. His season looked very different in mid-June, when he carried a .207 average and .561 OPS as the Brewers promoted Pratt on June 16 and placed the rookie at shortstop.
Ortiz responded with a major turnaround beginning in early July. Over 61 games since July 4, he has produced a .333 batting average, a .378 on-base percentage and a .531 slugging percentage, good for a .909 OPS.
That run made Ortiz an important part of Milwaukee’s lineup as the club built toward the postseason. The MRI results will now help determine whether he can remain in that role when the Brewers open their NLDS schedule on Oct. 3.
