PHOENIX -- The Brewers made three roster moves after their 4-3 victory over San Diego Friday afternoon at Maryvale Baseball Park.
Right-hander Yovani Gallardo, who underwent surgery on his left knee on Feb. 19, went placed on the 15-day disabled list. Gallardo threw two innings in a minor-league intrasquad game Friday morning and reported no problems.
Barring a setback, he'll make another start in the middle of next week and will begin building strength so that he can join the rotation in early to mid-April.
"My arm feels good, my knee feels good, so I look forward to the next time going out," said Gallardo, who allowed four hits and a walk in a 35-pitch outing.
"It's always nice to throw in the first game, because after that you know it's every fifth day. You don't have to worry about, ‘When am I throwing again?'"
The timing of Gallardo's DL stint was not an accident. Players who start the season on the disabled list must serve at least six days. Gallardo will be eligible to return to the active roster on April 6.
The Brewers also optioned catcher Vinny Rottino and left-handed reliever Mitch Stetter to Class AAA Nashville. Rottino, a native of Racine who played college ball at UW-La Crosse, got off to a hot start this spring but tapered off lately. The Brewers want him to be the No. 1 catcher for the Sounds, which means his days of being a super utility man are over.
"I try to see the positive in things," Rottino said. "Obviously, the minor leagues is not where you want to be, but I'm going to go down there and work my butt off and do whatever it takes for me to get better."
Stetter will work as a setup man to Sounds closer Luis Pena.
"He's come a long way in a year," assistant general manager Gord Ash said. "We want to get him out of that left-handed specialist role. We want him to dominated right-handed batters, too, so he'll be used in a more extended role in Nashville."
The Brewers will make more cuts / moves in the coming days. Lefty Chris Capuano, who underwent an MRI exam on his sore left elbow Wednesday, will consult team doctor William Raasch this weekend but general manager Doug Melvin said Capuano will start the season on the disabled list.
Raasch's flight to Phoenix was postponed Friday due to the weather.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.