Overview
- Milwaukee acquired right-handed reliever Joel Kuhnel from the Oakland Athletics in a cash transaction to bolster its bullpen.
- The move follows a string of recent injuries that have thinned Milwaukee’s pitching staff, including left-hander Brian Fitzpatrick being placed on the 15-day injured list with a UCL strain.
- Kuhnel has a 4.21 ERA and four saves in 25 appearances this season and saw his ERA rise after a recent four-run outing that followed otherwise strong results.
- He relies mainly on a sinker and a cutter, with the cutter generating a 34.3% whiff rate and his 5.6% walk rate ranking in the 90th percentile among MLB pitchers.
- Kuhnel had two prior stints with Milwaukee in 2024 without appearing in a game, and the club will likely use him as a low-cost, short-term option while it determines the length of the current injuries and the rotation’s needs.