MILWAUKEE — Ron Roenicke is hoping his bench will get back to normal soon.
The Milwaukee Brewers manager operated a man short the last few weeks, going with a four-man bench in order to carry an extra pitcher to help his heavily worked bullpen.
The team, though, is in the final stretch of 20 games in 20 days, and it likely will make a move to get back to a more “normal” roster make up when that break comes.
“I talked to (general manager) Doug (Melvin) about it this morning,” Roenicke said Monday before the Brewers’ 3-0 loss to the Washington Nationals. “We’ll see how we get through this series and maybe the next one. We’d like to get back to a five-man bench.”
Carrying an extra pitcher — currently left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, who returned from shoulder surgery June 14 — helps Roenicke make up for the roster spot being held by seldom-used lefty Wei-Chung Wang, a Rule 5 pick who must remain on the roster all season.
The Brewers, who lead the NL Central by 4 1/2 games and are 16 games over .500, get days off June 30 and July 3, sandwiching a two-game series at Toronto in between.