Bush is scheduled to make his spring debut Wednesday in the Brewers' exhibition game against the Great Britain team, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Bush ended the past season on the injured list with a non-COVID-19-related illness, but the ailment wasn't anything that affected his preparation heading into spring training. Instead, the Brewers seem to have been using their Cactus League games to date to get an extended look at some of the relievers who are less locked into the Opening Day roster than Bush, who projects to serve as one of the top setup men for closer Devin Williams. After coming over from the Rangers in an Aug. 1 trade last season, Bush turned in a 4.30 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB in 23 innings while gathering two saves and nine holds. He became arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter, ultimately striking an agreement with the Brewers on a one-year, $1.85 million contract in November, per Robert Murray of FanSided.com.
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Brewers' Matt Bush: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
Bush was placed on the injured list Tuesday with a non-COVID illness, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
The trip to the injured list will end Bush's season, as there are only two games remaining on the Brewers' schedule. After being traded at the deadline, Bush recorded a 4.30 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 23 innings. Jason Alexander was promoted from Triple-A Nashville to fill Bush's roster spot.
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Brewers' Matt Bush: Likely available Sunday
Rotowire
Bush (groin) is expected to be available out of the bullpen Sunday against the Yankees, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander hasn't seen the mound since he departed Tuesday's matchup against the Cardinals with a groin strain, though it appears he'll be available Sunday for manager Craig Counsell. Bush has appeared in 18 games since being acquired by the Brewers and has a 4.86 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB with two saves and six holds.
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Brewers' Matt Bush: Unlikely to require IL stint
Rotowire
Bush (groin) visited with team doctors Wednesday and isn't expected to require a trip to the injured list, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.
Bush exited Tuesday's game against the Cardinals due to right groin discomfort, but the injury doesn't appear to be a significant concern. He won't be available out of the bullpen for Wednesday's series finale in St. Louis since he traveled to Milwaukee to visit with the team's medical staff, but he'll likely have a chance to return when the Brewers return home to face the Yankees for a three-game series that begins Friday.
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Brewers' Matt Bush: Departs with groin issue
Rotowire
Bush was removed from Tuesday's game against the Cardinals with right groin discomfort, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander served as an opener Tuesday and retired one of the three batters he faced before he exited with the injury. Bush was charged with two earned runs but won't factor in the decision since Milwaukee entered the frame with a 2-0 lead. He'll likely be unavailable for Wednesday's series finale and should be considered day-to-day.
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Brewers' Matt Bush: To serve as opener
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Bush will open Tuesday's game against the Cardinals, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Bush's longest outing of the season lasted just 1.1 frames Thursday against the Giants, so he figures to work the first inning before turning the ball over to a long reliever. The right-hander owns a 2.70 ERA and 0.70 WHIP with 15 strikeouts over his last 10 outings (10 innings).
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Brewers' Matt Bush: Records 15th hold
Rotowire
Bush struck out three batters in a clean eighth inning and picked up his 15th hold of the season in Saturday's victory over the Reds.
Bush has not recorded a save since recording two over a five-day span in mid-August, but he does have six holds over that span and has posted a 3.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 18:3 K:BB over 12 innings. He will continue to occupy a spot in the late-inning mix ahead of closer Devin Williams.
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Brewers' Matt Bush: Collects third save
Rotowire
Bush allowed an unearned run on one hit and struck out two to earn the save in Saturday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Cardinals.
Bush allowed initial runner Nolan Gorman to score on a sacrifice fly, but he was able to stave off the Cardinals after that. This was Bush's second straight save, which suggests he's firmly in the high-leverage mix for the Brewers. For the season, Bush has a 3.29 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 51:12 K:BB through 41 innings between Milwaukee and Texas, and he's added three saves and nine holds.
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Brewers' Matt Bush: Earns second save
Rotowire
Bush picked up the save, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning in a 5-3 win Tuesday over Tampa Bay.
Bush faced the heart of Tampa Bay's lineup and retired them with ease, striking out Brandon Lowe and David Peralta in the process. It was his second save of the season and first since joining the Brewers. Bush joins Devin Williams as the two relievers that have received save chances since Milwaukee traded Josh Hader. Williams is likely to get the bulk of the save chances but Bush may be in the mix on occasion down the stretch.
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Brewers' Matt Bush: Back-to-back poor outings
Rotowire
Bush (0-1) blew the save and took the loss Thursday as Milwaukee fell 5-4 to Pittsburgh. He allowed two runs on one hit and two walks while striking out zero over one-third of an inning.
Bush came on in the bottom of the 10th to protect a one-run lead, but he immediately blew the save by serving up an RBI double to Bryan Reynolds on his first pitch. After two intentional walks and a flyout to right field, Bush threw a wild, 0-2 curveball in the dirt, resulting in a walk-off win on a wild pitch for the Pirates. In two appearances with Milwaukee, Bush has surrendered four hits, four runs (three earned) and two walks across 1.1 innings.
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Brewers' Matt Bush: Bound for Milwaukee
Rotowire
Bush was traded to the Brewers from the Rangers on Monday in exchange for infielder Mark Mathias and pitcher Antoine Kelly.
Bush has been brilliant of late, tossing 10 scoreless innings since the start of July, and the Brewers picked him up to add another quality option in their reconfigured bullpen.
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Rangers' Matt Bush: Opening Friday's game
Rotowire
Bush will serve as the opener for Friday's game against the Mariners, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Bush has yet to complete more than one frame in an appearance this season, so he won't pitch deep into Friday's game. However, he's been effective out of the bullpen, maintaining a 40:9 K:BB, 3.64 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 29.2 innings. Taylor Hearn will follow Bush into the game and is expected to serve as the primary pitcher.
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Rangers' Matt Bush: Yields unearned run in return
Rotowire
Bush gave up an unearned run on a hit and a walk with one strikeout in one inning during Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Twins.
Bush put two runners aboard and then committed a throwing error, leading to the Twins' sixth run. The right-hander had a 5.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in nine innings in June before going on the injured list with forearm soreness. He's expected to compete for save opportunities in what's likely to be a closer committee for the Rangers following the demotion of Joe Barlow from the role. Overall, Bush has a 3.90 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 37:8 K:BB with a save, eight holds and three blown saves in 27.2 innings this year.
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Rangers' Matt Bush: Back from injured list
Rotowire
Bush (forearm) was activated from the 15-day injured list Sunday.
Bush has been sidelined the past couple weeks by forearm soreness, but he threw live batting practice Friday and has been cleared to rejoin the active roster. The veteran right-hander has three saves and eight holds with a 4.05 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 36:7 K:BB across 26.2 innings this year, and he should be in the mix for more save opportunities after Joe Barlow was recently demoted from the closer role.
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Rangers' Matt Bush: Throwing live BP
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Bush (forearm) threw live batting practice Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The right-hander has been sidelined by forearm soreness since June 26, but he now appears close to returning from the injured list. Bush has one save and eight holds to go with a 4.05 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 36:7 K:BB over 26.2 innings this season, and he could see more save chances once activated after Joe Barlow was demoted from the closer role. Dennis Santana is currently the favorite for ninth-inning opportunities.
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Rangers' Matt Bush: Sidelined with sore forearm
Rotowire
The Rangers placed Bush on the 15-day injured list Sunday with right forearm soreness.
Texas planned on having Bush serve as its opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Nationals, but he was ultimately scratched ahead of the contest for unspecified reasons. The forearm injury provides an explanation for Bush's absence, though the Rangers believe it's only a short-term concern for the right-hander, per Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com. Right-hander Josh Sborz was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to provide an extra arm out of the bullpen while Bush is on the mend.
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Rangers' Matt Bush: Won't open Saturday
Rotowire
Bush was scratched from Saturday's start against the Nationals for undisclosed reasons, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Bush was slated to serve as the opener for Saturday's contest, but he was scratched about an hour before first pitch. Brett Martin will instead open on the mound for the Rangers.
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Rangers' Matt Bush: Opening Saturday
Rotowire
Bush will start Saturday's game against the Nationals.
Bush pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts during Friday's contest, and he'll serve as the opener a day later. It's unclear if the Rangers have a primary pitcher in mind or if they'll employ a full bullpen game.
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Rangers' Matt Bush: Tosses scoreless inning
Rotowire
Bush allowed a hit and a walk while recording one strikeout in a scoreless frame as the opener in Friday's loss to the White Sox.
Bush put the first two White Sox batters on base but escaped the jam unscathed. He lowered his season ERA to 4.03 with a 29:6 K:BB through 22.1 innings.
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Rangers' Matt Bush: Starting bullpen game
Rotowire
Bush will be the first pitcher on the mound in a bullpen game Friday against the White Sox.
The Rangers were left scrambling after scheduled starter Glenn Otto landed on the COVID-19 injured list earlier in the day. Without another starter to turn to, they'll instead use several relievers. Bush will be the first one on the mound, but he's yet to record more than three outs in any appearance this season, so he's unlikely to make it far beyond that number this time around.
