Milwaukee Brewers: Jimmy Nelson taking next step in return

The Milwaukee Brewers are a bit closer to getting more reinforcements for their pitching staff, as Jimmy Nelson is about to start his rehab assignment.

The 2019 season has not gone quite as the Milwaukee Brewers had hoped. Heading into Sunday, they sit two games above .500, second in the NL Central. And yet, this season has been somewhat as expected, as the Brewers offense has been solid and the bullpen has generally dominated.

Likewise, the biggest problem for the Brewers has been their rotation. Heading into action on Saturday, Milwaukee starters had posted a 5.77 ERA and a .284 batting average against, the worst marks in the National League. Needless to say, the Brewers need to find some upgrades to their rotation.

While the addition of Gio Gonzalez may help, the Brewers need more than a back of the rotation arm. While he is still a few weeks away, one of those reinforcements has taken another step closer to returning to the rotation. Jimmy Nelson, who appeared to be emerging as a top starter, is set to begin his rehab assignment on Sunday.

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Before suffering a partially torn labrum at the end of 2017, Nelson was in the midst of a breakout campaign. He posted a 12-6 record with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.249 WHiP, all of which were career bests. In his 175.1 innings, Nelson struck out 199 batters with just 46 walks, as he finally exhibited the command needed to take that step forward.

Obviously, as it has been 596 days since Nelson last pitched in a regular season game, there will likely be some rust that he will need to work through. However, his brief appearance in Spring Training gives hope that those struggles will be minimal, as he struck out seven while allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits in his four innings of work.

Even if Nelson does not immediately return as the top of the rotation arm that he had become, he will still provide a boost for a rotation in desperate need of one. Milwaukee simply has not seen the production needed from the rotation; Jhoulys Chacin has been a disappointment in his return to the Brewers, and Bradon Woodruff has not developed as anticipated. Freddy Peralta, who is expected back from the Injured List soon, has also been a disappointment.

Jimmy Nelson is taking the next step to making his return to the Milwaukee Brewers rotation. Although he is still a bit away, reinforcements are coming.