No, the Brewers didn't pull off a blockbuster trade for Roy Halladay, nor did they sign a big-name free agent. Instead, the Milwaukee rotation will welcome back, for better or for worse, Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan later this week.
Both pitchers have been on the disabled list -- Suppan with an oblique strain and Bush with right arm fatigue and a micro-tear of his triceps -- for the last few weeks, and with a lack of viable minor league options, those injuries added additional strain to an already beleaguered bullpen.
Macha, for now, is hoping that the return of his season-opening rotation will add some stability and help put a stop the the Brewers' free fall from contention.
Bush has been on the DL since June 21. He was originally slated to return shortly after the all-star break, but he suffered a setback during a minor league rehabilitation start and needed extra time. He threw 3 1/3 innings Sunday with Class AA Huntsville, allowing a pair of runs on a hit and two walks with a two strikeouts.
Though the Brewers were playing at the same time as the Stars Sunday, Macha was kept abreast of Bush's progress.
"We had updates inning by inning," Macha told reporters after Milwaukee's 8-3 loss at Washington. "The first inning, he threw 28 pitches. That wasn't encouraging. But he threw only nine pitches in the third inning. He said he felt good."
Bush will likely make his return to Milwaukee Thursday when the Brewers take on Cincinnati.
Suppan, meanwhile, was knocked around in outings with Class A Wisconsin and Class AAA Nashville in the last week, but he is expected to be recalled in time to start Tuesday night in the series opener against the Reds at Miller Park.
The team will have to make a pair of correlating roster moves, but general manager Doug Melvin won't make those moves until Tuesday.
Parra reverts to old form: The return of Bush and Suppan comes at a good time for the Brewers, who have all but eliminated themselves from postseason contention thanks to some awful outings. The latest such came Sunday when Manny Parra was knocked around by the Nationals.
Parra lasted just 3 1/3 innings, surrendering eight runs (five earned) on eight hits, including three home runs.
"I didn't have anything today," Parra said. "My fastball wasn't any good, the curveball I threw to Dunn just spun, the change-up I threw to Zimmerman was up and out over the plate. That's what they're supposed to do to those pitches. There are mistakes you can make, but not like that. You just try to get past it and move on."
Gallardo's pitch total grows: Yovani Gallado takes the mound today in the series finale against the Nationals and he'll be closing in on a milestone.
Gallardo, the Brewers' budding ace has 171 strikeouts this season, putting him just 29 away from becoming the fourth Milwaukee pitcher to record 200 in a season.
At the same time, Macha will watch Gallardo's pitch count, as the 23-year-old is near the top of the league in pitches thrown this season with 2,694. He's averaged 108 pitches per start in 2009.
Macha isn't cconcerned about Gallardo's health -- he is pitching his first full season after missing most of last year with a torn ACL -- but is looking out for what looks to be a promising future. For most of the season, Macha has used off days to give his starters and extra day of rest, but with Bush and Suppan injured, that plan was scrapped.
"He's feeling pretty good," Macha said. "His arm angle has been pretty good."
Gallardo is currently 10th on the Brewers' all-time single-season strikeout lost and could convieveably surpass pitching coach Chris Bosio (173) and Chris Capuano (174, 176) with a strong performance today.
Lopez stays hot: In trading for Felipe Lopez, Melvin was hoping to find a viable offensive replacement atop the lineup for Rickie Weeks.
Boy, did he.
Lopez has been nothing short of outstanding since joining the Brewers, batting .357. He's hitting .314 for the season and has led off six of the last nine games with a base hit.
"He's been a hitting machine," Macha said.
A free agent in the off-season, Lopez could figure into Melvin's long-term plans.
Quick hits: Trevor Hoffman (968) and David Weathers (945) are among the top 20 pitchers in all-time appearances. … The Brewers' eight doubles in Saturday night's victory were a season high and the most in a game since Milwaukee hit nine last year against Pittsburgh. … Chris Narveson earned his first career victory Saturday. … Heading into play Sunday, Ryan Braun had hits in 25 of his last 30 games. … Mike Cameron is five runs from 1,000 for his career. …The Brewers have allowed the second-fewest runs in the NL after the sixth inning (155). ... Prince Fielder is on pace to finish with 145 RBI. ... Hoffman has converted eight straight save opportunities. ... Jason Kendall is 8-for-15 (.533) in his last four games. ... FS Wisconsin has added Thursday's game against the Reds to its broadcast schedule.
Injury report: With Bush and Suppan set to make their returns this week, the Brewers' disabled list still has plenty of occupants. Corey Hart is still recovering from an appendectomy performed earlier this month. Seth McClung's sprained right elbow hasn't improved much. And Rickie Weeks and David Riske are out for the season.
On the farm: Erick Almonte went 2-for-5 with 4 RBI Sunday to help Nashville to a 6-5 victory over Albuquerque. The victory snapped a seven-game losing streak and kept the sounds 2 1/2 games behind Memphis in the PCL's Northern Division. ... J.J. Hardy is hitting .205 (8-for-39) in 10 games with the Sounds. He's got two homers, a double and four RBI.
Rattlers set record: Class A Wisconsin, in its first year as a Brewers' affiliate, set a new single-season attendance record last week. The Timber Rattlers have drawn 238,852 for the season, surpassing the old mark of 233,797. The team has also drawn crowds of more than 5,000 on ten occasions this year. The total number will keep growing as Wisconsin has three home games remaining; Sept. 2-4 against Cedar Rapids.
This week: The Brewers say goodbye to the Nation's Capital today with a matinee against the Nats. Then, it's home to Milwaukee for three games each against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
NL Central standings (through games Sunday): 1, St. Louis, 72-54; 2, Chicago, 62-60 (-8); 3, Houston, 61-63 (-10); 4, MILWAUKEE, 60-63 (-10 1/2); 5, Cincinnati, 52-71 (18 1/2); 6, Pittsburgh, 51-71 (-19).
