With Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan both on the disabled list, General Manager Doug Melvin looked high and low to get help for his maligned pitching staff before Friday's deadline for non-waiver trades.

In the end, with slim pickings and the prices for players that were available a little too steep, Melvin made a move that he hopes would help an overworked bullpen and hoped that the players on hand would be able to help right the Brewers ship.

Melvin, by his own admission, was working the phones right up until Friday's 3 p.m. deadline and told reporters that he was still trying to swing what he termed a "big" deal as the seconds ticked away. He wouldn't divulge whom the potential players or teams involved were, but did suggest that it didn't include Toronto's Roy Halladay (who stayed put) or Seattle's Jarrod Washburn (who went to Detroit).

The general manager told MLB.com's Adam McCalvy that he was close to completing a three-team deal at the deadline and that he also tried to acquire right-hander Brian Bannister from the Kansas City Royals, as well as Doug Davis of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

With a lack of viable pitching prospects in the Brewers' farm system, most potential trade partners set their sights on third baseman Mat Gamel and shortstop Alcides Escobar. Melvin didn't feel a potential two-month rental was worth one of his top prospects.

"Most teams are looking for one or two guys who are closer to the big leagues," Melvin said. "We've been a team that's drafted real well on the positional side."

Instead, the Brewers -- barring any waiver-wire deals -- will finish the season by looking for help from within.

Right-hander Mike Burns was recalled from Class AAA Nashville and started Saturday, allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings in the Brewers' 4-2 loss to the Padres. Burns went 2-3 in five previous starts in two previous stints with Milwaukee this season.

Also filling in as a starter is Carlos Villanueva, who had struggled in his relief role as of late. He took a no-decision Sunday, after throwing five shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out three in the Brewers' 6-1 victory at San Diego.

Until Bush and Suppan return, those two are being asked to hold down the fort and complement Yovani Gallardo, Manny Parra and Braden Looper.

"We have kind of depleted all of the options," manager Ken Macha said.

Quick turnaround: Just a few days after accepting an assignment to Class AAA Nashville, Bill Hall will be back with the Brewers tonight in Los Angeles.

Hall takes the place of Corey Hart, who will miss at least the next few weeks after undergoing an appendectomy. He was scratched from the lineup Sunday with what he said were stomach pains. The true extent of Hart's condition was announced after the Brewers' 6-1 victory over San Diego.

Hart had just started to find his groove, hitting .329 over his last 22 games.

While his time in Nashville was brief, Hall made the most of it. He went 4-for-8 with a home run and a double in his first two games with the Sounds. A jack-of-all-trades fielder, Hall played shortstop there before switching to right for a Sunday double-header.

He'll take Hart's place in right tonight, provided he doesn't experience any travel delays.

Vargas happy to be back: When the Brewers released Claudio Vargas last year at the end of Spring Training, it was because the team felt it had a glut of starting pitching.

How times have changed.

Vargas, acquired a year earlier in the deal that sent Doug Davis to Arizona, was shocked at the time, but said there's no hard feelings.

"When they told me I was coming here, it was surprising for me because of what happened last year," Vargas told the traveling media party on Saturday. "That is part of the business. They need somebody here now, so I'm ready to go. This is my job."

The 31-year-old posted a 1.64 in eight relief outings with the Dodgers this season, missing much of the year with elbow tendinitis. In 29 games with Milwaukee in 2007, Vargas went 11-6 with a 5.09 ERA. He appeared in 29 games, starting 23.

Hoffman's homecoming: Trevor Hoffman spent a few nights in his own bed and got a warm reception in his first appearance back at PETCO Park.

The all-star closer played for the Padres from 1993 through last season, becoming the all-time leader in Saves along the way. Despite his history there, Hoffman claimed his return to San Diego was business as usual when he took the mound Sunday.

"You're in the heat of the moment, trying to get some outs," Hoffman said. "There were times in the three days we were here to have some neat moments with people. It was perfect, other than the fact we came out on the short end of the series."

Sunday was just the third time in his career that Hoffman faced San Diego, and the first since June 4, 1993, when he was a member of the Florida Marlins.

Prior to the series opener, the Padres welcomed Hoffman with a pre-game video tribute.

Quick hits: The Brewers haven't won a series since June and are 0-6-2 in their last eight series. … Todd Coffey was named Pitcher of the Month for July, after going 1-0 with a 1.26 ERS in 14.1 innings of work. Prince Fielder won his third consecutive Player of the Month award, after hitting .315 with five homers and 17 RBI in July. Heading into play Sunday, he was hitting .331 since May 12, the fifth-best mark in the National League during that stretch. … Only twice in the last 10 games has a Brewers starter recorded a quality start; both of them coming from Yovani Gallardo. … Ryan Braun is eight home runs away from 100 for his career. He's the first Brewer to hit 20 homers in each of his first three Major League seasons. … Craig Counsell's 12-game hitting streak was snapped Friday.

Injury report: Hart was moved to the 15-day disabled list prior to his operation Sunday. … Jeff Suppan … Dave Bush threw of a mound Sunday for the first time after being shutdown in a previous effort to return from right arm fatigue.

On the farm: Chase Wright took his first loss since May 29 Thursday after allowing seven runs on 10 hits in Nashville's 7-4 loss to New Orleans. … Class A Wisconsin dropped two of three to Quad Cities over the weekend in Appleton. The Timber Rattlers are 14-21 in the second half; 48-57 overall. … Lorenzo Cain's two-out, two-run single keyed a five-run ninth-inning rally Sunday as Class AA Huntsville beat Jacksonville, 7-6.

This week: The West Coast swing continues for the Brewers, who travel up I-5 to open a three-game series against Los Angeles tonight at Dodger Stadium. Manny Parra will take the mound for the Brewers, who will travel to Houston this coming weekend.