MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Brewers All-Star closer Corey Knebel was placed on the disabled list Friday due to a left hamstring injury and is expected to be out at least six weeks.
All in all it's about the best news the Brewers could expect after Knebel collapsed while holding the hamstring after throwing a pitch in Thursday's loss to the Chicago Cubs.
"It really worried me yesterday, but today I woke up and it felt a lot better," Knebel said before Friday's game against the Cubs.
Knebel, 26, was getting some work in during a blowout loss when he went down. He was helped off the field by the training staff and was in "a lot of pain" after the game. Manager Craig Counsell said the team will use a variety of relievers to close out games in Knebel's absence, but if someone emerges, then that person could get the majority of opportunities.
"They've been doing a great job," Counsell said of his bullpen. "They've been very efficient. We've rarely had to get other guys up to cover their innings. If we continue on that mode of operation, we'll be just fine."
The Brewers bullpen is 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA entering play Friday. It was 3-for-3 in save opportunities before Knebel went down. Jacob Barnes, Jeremy Jeffress, Dan Jennings and even lefty Josh Hader now could get the call in the ninth for the Brewers.
As for Knebel, he had no issue with pitching in a non-save situation, as the Brewers determined he needed the work after not throwing for five days. He considered the injury a fluke.
"I was prepared like I normally [am]," Knebel said. "It was just one of those freak accidents."
Knebel had 39 saves last season as the Brewers fell just short of the postseason.