Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy is changing the plan for Kyle Harrison after the left-hander endured another difficult outing.
Harrison is still expected to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, but Murphy said the Brewers are likely to use him in a tandem arrangement with a long reliever. The plan remains subject to change as Milwaukee prepares for the postseason.
The update was reported by David Gasper on X after Harrison’s latest abbreviated start.
Harrison’s struggles continued Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds. The 25-year-old allowed nine hits, four walks and four earned runs over just 3.2 innings, throwing 93 pitches in Milwaukee’s 12-8 loss.
That came only days after an even rougher outing against the Cubs. Harrison surrendered nine earned runs and five home runs over 3.2 innings in the Sept. 1 matchup.
The two starts have dramatically changed the conversation around a pitcher who had otherwise put together a productive season. Harrison entered the latest stretch with a 10-4 record, 3.66 ERA and 134 strikeouts across 110.2 innings.
Over his last two starts, however, he has allowed 13 earned runs, 19 hits and six home runs in only 7.1 innings.
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Murphy’s tandem approach would allow Harrison to work through an opposing lineup while giving Milwaukee a fresh multi-inning option behind him. That could reduce the risk of another short outing while preserving Harrison as a potential postseason weapon.
The Brewers entered Monday at 88-56, holding a 7-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Milwaukee’s strong position gives Murphy some flexibility to manage Harrison carefully rather than force him into a traditional starter’s workload.
With October approaching, the Brewers now have to determine whether Harrison can regain his form or whether a shortened role is the better path forward.
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