Brewers recall left-hander Colton Gordon for additional bullpen depth

BALTIMORE – The Milwaukee Brewers will get their first up-close look at the Colton Gordon , the second and more intriguing piece of their July 15 trade with the Houston Astros that also brought them Lance McCullers Jr. after recalling him from Class AAA Nashville on Friday, Sept. 18.

The left-hander joins the bullpen for the immediate future with right-hander Garrett Stallings being optioned to Nashville in the corresponding move.

"Super excited," Gordon said prior to the Brewers' series opener against the Baltimore Orioles . "Obviously, the Brewers are a winning organization and I love to win. That's what I've done my whole life, and to be able to help an organization do that, get as far as we can go, whatever role that is for me I'm just excited to be a part of that.

"I appreciated my time in Houston. A lot of good friends, and coaches and staff who have helped me along the way, but always excited for new opportunities."

Gordon, 27, was 1-5 with a 4.67 ERA and WHIP of 1.28 in 10 starts for the Sounds and 48 strikeouts in 54 innings.

He started 14 games a season ago and one this season with four total appearances for the Astros before being traded over to the Brewers in exchange for minor-leaguer Jadyn Fielder.

"A guy the organization went after, and so you do your research and watch the video and all that kind of stuff," manager Pat Murphy said. "He's a consummate pitcher. You look for the sweeper to be a big pitch for him, and for him to locate his heater."

The Brewers were in need of a fresh arm after Stallings threw three innings in the Brewers' 7-4 loss to the Pirates on Sept. 17, a strong performance that saw him record a career-high six strikeouts.

"He's fantastic," Murphy said of Stallings. "It's Bryse Wilson , it's Brent Suter , it's all those guys that are just key to their ballclub. The kid has been amazing, he really has."

There will be other moving parts in the bullpen in the coming days as well with Wilson and Grant Anderson both nearing returns from the injured list.

Gordon, meanwhile, jumps aboard a Brewers team that continues to rocket toward a first-round postseason bye with eyes on finishing with the best record in baseball for the second straight year.

"It's awesome," he said. "It's exciting to be a part of that, and I want to help in any way I can. I'm happy to be here and I want to keep it going."

"Just staying ready, competing, trying to win ballgames," Gordon said.

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