Brewers designate struggling reliever Bush for assignment day after blown save against Pirates
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Matt Bush throws against the Seattle Mariners during a baseball game Monday, April 17, 2023, in Seattle. Brewers reliever Matt Bush has been activated after missing two months with an injury to his right rotator cuff. The Brewers activated the right-hander Friday, June 23, before opening a three-game series at Cleveland. Credit: AP/Lindsey Wasson
PITTSBURGH — The Milwaukee Brewers designated veteran reliever Matt Bush for assignment on Saturday, less than 24 hours after he blew a save against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Bush entered Friday night's game trying to preserve a two-run lead only to give up a game-winning three-run homer to Pittsburgh's Carlos Santana in what became an 8-7 loss.
Bush, acquired in a trade with Texas last August, struggled during his brief time in Milwaukee. The 37-year-old went 0-4 with a 5.94 ERA and three saves in 37 appearances for the Brewers, including an 0-2 mark with a 9.58 ERA in 12 games this season.
Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell noted a decrease in Bush's velocity this season as one of the reasons for his ineffectiveness.
The Brewers also designated left-handed reliever Thomas Pannone for assignment. Pannone pitched 2 2/3 innings on Friday, his first game in the majors since 2019. Milwaukee made the move to bring up a pair of arms to help out the bullpen.
The Brewers called up left-handed reliever Clayton Andrews and right-handed reliever J.B. Bukauskas from Triple-A Nashville to fill the roster spots created by the departure of Bush and Pannone.
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