For second straight season, Brewers acquire right-hander Jordan Lyles, this time to start

MILWAUKEE — Welcome back, Jordan Lyles.

For the second consecutive season, the Milwaukee Brewers picked up the versatile right-hander on Monday, acquiring him from Pittsburgh for minor-league pitcher Cody Ponce.

The Brewers picked up Lyles on a waiver deal from San Diego last August and put him in their bullpen, where he pitched only 16⅓ innings over 11 appearances, compiling a 3.31 ERA. This time, the Brewers have a different need – starting pitching – with only two completely healthy rotation members heading into a nine-game trip to Oakland, Chicago and Pittsburgh on Tuesday. 

Lyles was scheduled to start Monday night for the Pirates in Cincinnati. Instead, he will travel Tuesday to join the Brewers in Oakland and likely pitch on Wednesday or Thursday there. That means Adrian Houser, who has shuttled back and forth from the bullpen to rotation, probably will start Tuesday.

The Brewers did not pick up a club option on Lyles after the 2018 season and he signed a one-year, $2.05 million deal with the Pirates. He got off to a great start, going 4-1 with a 1.97 ERA over his first eight starts, and compiled a 3.09 ERA over the first two months of the season. Lyles then missed time with a hamstring injury and has not been the same since returning.

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Over his last seven outings, Lyles has allowed 46 hits, including 11 home runs, and 14 walks over 27 innings, resulting in a 0-5 record and 10.00 ERA. In his most recent outing Wednesday against St. Louis, he was tagged for eight runs (five earned) in only 1⅔ innings of a 14-8 loss to the Cardinals.

Overall, Lyles, 28, went 5-7 with a 5.36 ERA in 17 starts for the Pirates.

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Asked about acquiring Lyles while he is faring poorly, Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said, "As with every transaction, we look at the track record of performance. Jordan pitched very well for a period this year and he has scuffled a little bit of late.

"As we looked at the entirety of the season, both early and the more recent outings, we think the underlying aspects of his performance, what he's actually doing on the mound, have remained fairly consistent. So, we think he's a quality addition to the club and we look forward to him contributing down the stretch."

As for why the results have not been there for Lyles, Stearns said, "This happens from time to time for pitchers throughout the course of the season. Sometimes, things are rolling really well. Sometimes, things don't and can steamroll a little bit. 

"We look at it as likely he's had his three worst outings clumped together. But the stuff is still strong. He's still executing his pitches, and we believe he can have success over the next two months of the season."

Asked if coming to a contending team could provide a mental boost to break free of his struggles, Lyles said, "I believe so. That's certainly how I'm going to look at it. I'm definitely looking forward to a change. This last month or two hasn't gone in my favor. I've pitched poorly.

"I got off to a hot start and faded, with some injuries here and there. My execution has been very poor. Some new scenery, a new boost of confidence and being in the middle of another division race, I'm looking forward to that. That's going to add more to it."

As for being acquired by the Brewers two years in a row, Lyles said, "There's a lot of things that go through your mind. Initially, you're excited. Then, you start going through your brain with what their team looks like, where you're going to fit in. All those types of things. It's a thousand things at once but definitely exciting.

"I know that Milwaukee needs some help arms-wise, with how many injuries they've had this season. Time will tell but I'm looking forward to it, looking forward to working with (catcher) Yasmani (Grandal). I've been playing against him for almost a decade now. We're going to be able to work together, finally."

With starters Brandon Woodruff and Jhoulys Chacin on the injured list and Gio Gonzalez nursing a sore shoulder, the Brewers likely will need a bolder move to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth. The trade deadline is 3 p.m. Central on Wednesday and Stearns will continue to search for help.

"Conversations continue to go on," Stearns said. "As we get closer to the deadline, the frequency and specificity of those conversations generally increase. But handicapping the likelihood of another deal is tough to call right now." 

Ponce, 25, was a second-round pick in the 2015 draft but struggled for consistency as a starter and eventually was moved into a relief role. In 27 outings this season with Class AA Biloxi, he was 1-3 with a 3.29 ERA and one save.