Brewers pitcher Kyle Lohse to miss start

The Milwaukee Brewers will miss Kyle Lohse for one start as the pitcher is battling irritation in his right elbow. Instead, Mike Fiers will start on Saturday for the Brewers.

Lohse began feeling the discomfort in his elbow "two or three starts ago", according to Manager Ron Roenicke, who was quoted by MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. The Brewers are hopeful that it is only a mild injury that won't develop into something that will keep Lohse out for an extended period of time.

Lohse, 34, for all intents and purposes did not have a Spring Training during which he could stretch out. The former Cardinals pitcher went all offseason as a free agent waiting for a team to sign him before Milwaukee offered a three year, $33 million deal near the end of March.

The investment has worked out well for the Brewers, with Lohse's 3.76 ERA easily the top mark in Milwaukee's rotation. Over his last four starts--roughly the time he has been experiencing discomfort--Lohse has not pitched quite so well, with a 5.48 ERA and .898 opponent OPS.

Fiers was a member of the Brewers rotation coming out of Spring Training, but a bad start caused Milwaukee to move him to the bullpen and, eventually, back to Triple-A. He was recalled earlier in May when Tom Gorzelanny was placed on the disabled list. Fiers was a dark horse Rookie of the Year candidate in 2012 before he collapsed towards the end of the season.

Lohse is expected to be back in the rotation for the Brewers series against the Twins next week.