Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said the reasoning for sticking with left-hander Jared Koenig in the extra-inning loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday was because the team was closely monitoring closer Devin Williams' workload and wanted to get him up in case there was a spot to face a hitter or two, at the most. Williams got up in the bullpen but then sat back down, and the Brewers felt good about Koenig's chances after a clean ninth inning. However, Koenig proceeded to allow three runs (two earned) on four hits to take the loss. Williams got up in the bullpen two separate times but ultimately was not used after pitching last Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The 29-year-old two-time All-Star missed all of the first half due to a back injury but has been great with a 1.53 ERA, 12 saves and 32 strikeouts in 17 2/3 relief innings in the second half.

Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that closer Devin Williams (shoulder) is dealing with a left-shoulder injury. "He got up this morning and his left shoulder, he didn't feel right," Murphy said. The Brewers had the day off on Monday, so it's unclear if the injury to Williams' non-throwing shoulder will require him to be unavailable when the team's series starts on Tuesday against the visiting San Francisco Giants. The injury did keep the 29-year-old from appearing in Sunday's series finale against the Oakland Athletics, though, after he felt a pinch when he woke up on Sunday, likely a result of sleeping on his arm wrong. For now, consider Williams to be day-to-day. If he cannot pitch to start the series against San Francisco or if he ends up on the injured list, right-hander Trevor Megill would likely see any save chances that pop up for Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams earned his fifth save of the season as his team beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2. Williams allowed two hits and struck out the side in the ninth inning. Williams, who missed most of the season recovering from a back injury, has not missed a beat since returning at the end of July. In eight games (8 IP), he has a 1.13 ERA, a 0.88 WHIP, 14 K, and is 5-for-5 in save opportunities. He looks like he's back to his old self and has regained his title as one of the game's best relief pitchers.

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Devin Williams tossed a scoreless ninth inning to preserve a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. Williams did not allow a baserunner while notching one strikeout in the frame. The 29-year-old was just activated from the 60-day injured list on July 28 after he missed most of the year with a stress fracture in his back. He has looked solid in the ninth-inning role for the Brewers so far, having allowed just one run over five innings of work while striking out nine and picking up two saves. Williams should be a good source of saves for the NL Central-leading Brewers over the remainder of the season.

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Devin Williams (back) has been activated off the 60-day IL and will make his 2024 season debut on Sunday afternoon against the Miami Marlins. Williams was sidelined during the first four months of the season due to multiple stress fractures in his back. The right-hander made four rehab appearances over the past two weeks and tossed four shutout innings with six punchouts. Last season, the 29-year-old was one of the best closers in fantasy, boasting a 1.53 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a 28:97 BB:K ratio. Williams should immediately be put into your starting lineup and has a strong chance to tally the most saves during the remainder of the summer.

Milwaukee Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said on Friday that closer Devin Williams (back) is expected to come off the 60-day injured list "in the next few days." Williams missed the entire first half of the 2024 season due to multiple stress fractures in his back, but he's worked his way back and is now on the cusp of rejoining Milwaukee's bullpen. While the 29-year-old could be eased back into high-leverage situations at the end of the game, he's fully expected to return to full-time closing duties in Milwaukee when the club feels he's ready. It means that fantasy managers that have been riding Trevor Megill all year are going to have to move in another direction soon. Williams was an All-Star in each of the last two years for the Brew Crew while posting a stingy 1.73 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, 51 saves and a 183:58 K:BB in 119 1/3 innings. If he's on your league's waiver wire, grab him ASAP.

Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams (back) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with High-A Wisconsin on Saturday, according to the team. Williams threw a live batting practice session on Tuesday and has now been cleared to start a rehab assignment as he works his way back from two stress fractures in his back. The 29-year-old right-handed reliever has been out all year and probably isn't going to rejoin Milwaukee's bullpen right away after next week's All-Star break, but he's certainly getting close to making his 2024 debut. However, barring a setback, Williams could come off the 60-day injured in late July and will be eased back into regular closing duties for the Brew Crew. The two-time All-Star should be stashed in all fantasy leagues. In the meantime, Trevor Megill will continue to serve as Milwaukee's fill-in closer.

Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams (back) threw to live hitters for the first time on Tuesday before the team's game against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. A pretty serious back issue has kept Williams out the entire first half of the 2024 season. However, the 29-year-old right-handed reliever is making good progress after he resumed throwing off a mound in late June and is on track to return from the 60-day injured list near the end of July, barring a setback. The last step for Williams will be going on a minor-league rehab assignment eventually. If he's floating around on your waiver wire, scoop him up immediately and stash him in an IL spot, as Williams will eventually return to being Milwaukee's primary closer. Until then, Trevor Megill should continue to see most of the Brewers' save chances.

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Devin Williams (back) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Saturday. The 29-year-old reportedly felt great during his first bullpen session. The hope is that Williams can progress to a live batting practice session, assuming this bullpen session goes well. It sounds like Williams is making progress but is still a few weeks away from pitching again. The expectation is that Williams will return to the Brewers bullpen shortly after the All-Star break.

Milwaukee Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said that closer Devin Williams (back) could return from the 60-day injured list earlier than mid- to late-July. Williams is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday for the first time since being shut down in spring training with multiple stress fractures in his back. The 29-year-old right-handed reliever will need multiple bullpen sessions and will also need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, so there's no guarantee that he'll make his 2024 debut before the All-Star break in mid-July. Still, he's getting closer to game action and should be stashed in all fantasy leagues in the meantime. Once he's back up to speed, he'll eventually regain regular closing duties in Milwaukee. Until then, expect Trevor Megill to get most of the Brewers' save chances.

Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams (back) has a mound session on the schedule for Wednesday before the club's series finale against the visiting Texas Rangers. That keeps him on track to be pitching in the major leagues sometime in late July if all goes well, considering it's set to be the most significant step forward in Williams' throwing progression to this point in his recovery from stress fractures in his back. The 29-year-old right-hander won the Trevor Hoffman Award as the best closer in the National League with 36 saves and a 1.53 ERA for the Brewers last year, so he needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues. In the meantime, the flame-throwing Trevor Megill has saved 15 games with a 1.93 ERA and 28:7 K:BB over 25 appearances for Milwaukee and should be rostered in all formats.

Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams (back) is scheduled to start playing catch within the next two weeks, according to manager Pat Murphy. Williams has a checkup with a doctor for his back injury in the coming days. The Brewers' bullpen took a big hit when it was announced that the 29-year-old All-Star closer wouldn't be ready to make his 2024 debut until around the All-Star break due to a serious back issue that has been bothering him for a while. The good news is that Williams appears to be making progress. Given how elite he's been as a closer when healthy, he should be stashed in an injured list spot in all fantasy formats. Joel Payamps and Abner Uribe have been called on in a few save situations, but as of right now, Trevor Megill is the favorite for saves in Milwaukee with Williams still out of the picture.

Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams (back) is still hoping to return around the All-Star break in July, according to general manager Matt Arnold. Williams was diagnosed with two stress fractures in his back in the middle of March and was estimated to be out for around three months, which would put him back in the middle of the summer, barring any setbacks once he begins ramping up his arm. The 29-year-old All-Star closer has a long ways to go before returning as Milwaukee's closer, but he should be stashed in an injured list spot in all fantasy leagues until then. Abner Uribe has opened the year as the Brewers' preferred closer with Williams out and has allowed three earned runs in his first five innings of 2024 with three walks and five strikeouts while picking up three saves.

Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams (back) is expected to miss around three months due to stress fractures in his back. General manager Matt Arnold said he would leave the decision up to manager Pat Murphy and his staff as to who will be the team's closer while Williams is sidelined. Abner Uribe, as well as Joel Payamps and Trevor Megill, seem to be the most obvious replacements for save chances, though none of the trio has had much big-league closing experience. Murphy said he has no intentions of naming one defined closer unless one naturally emerges during the season. While Uribe has the most natural stuff to be a closer, Payamps should also be in the mix, and this could end up being a total committee approach. Payamps feels like the best speculation for fantasy managers scrounging for saves late in deep-mixed drafts.

Milwaukee Brewers star closer Devin Williams (back) has two stress fractures in his back and is expected to miss around three months, according to sources. Williams pitched through back soreness last September, but it returned this spring. He will rehab and is expected to return by midseason. The top fantasy closer will now miss at least half the season, which will obviously cause his stock to drop considerably for those who have yet to draft for the 2024 season. The 29-year-old right-hander saved 36 games for the Brew Crew in 40 chances last year while also posting an elite 1.53 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 87 strikeouts and 28 walks in 58 2/3 innings pitched. It's a massive blow to the back end of Milwaukee's bullpen before the start of the season. Trevor Megill, Joel Payamps and Abner Uribe could all be options for saves in Milwaukee with Williams hurt.

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Devin Williams is headed for a second opinion on his ailing back. The club's closer will see a spine specialist this week but the club isn't overly concerned about the issue as they are being cautious with the issue. The 29-year-old took over full-time closing duties in the 2023 season, working to an eye-popping 1.53 ERA alongside a 25.5% K-BB% across 58 2/3 frames a season ago. The righty had previously served as the Brewers' setup man for Josh Hader before the latter was dealt to the San Diego Padres prior to the trade deadline in the 2022 season. He recorded 36 saves last season for the division-winning Brewers and is a high-end closer ahead of the 2024 campaign. If healthy, he is worth an investment at his 47.59 ADP as one of the better strikeout artists at the closer position while Joel Payamps or Trevor Megill should be in line for save opportunities if Williams misses some time to begin the season.

Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams got rocked in a relief appearance against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. The All-Star closer entered in the bottom of the fourth inning and only lasted 1/3 of an inning. In his outing, he gave up two hits, four runs, two walks and one strikeout. It was just his second outing in the Cactus League this spring, following a scoreless inning in his first game. There isn't too much to read into with this outing as it can be chalked up as an off game. Nonetheless, Williams remains one of the top closers in the game and managers shouldn't hesitate to make him one of the first relievers off the boards in upcoming drafts.

The Milwaukee Brewers "have entertained the possibility" of trading star closer Devin Williams, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. This news comes on the heels of a big night for the Brewers as they traded starter Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles. Milwaukee has already parted with Burnes and Brandon Woodruff this offseason, so moving on from Williams would be quite significant. A Williams trade would presumably signal a rebuild of sorts for the Brewers, though such a path would counter some of the moves they've made this offseason, like signing Rhys Hoskins. Nevertheless, it's no secret that the Brewers could fetch quite the haul for Williams, who accrued a phenomenal 1.53 ERA and 13.35 K/9 while locking down 38 saves in 2023. He figures to be an All-Star-caliber closer for several years to come.

The Milwaukee Brewers and right-handed reliever Devin Williams agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal to avoid salary arbitration on Thursday. The deal includes a team option for the 2025 season. Williams' 2024 salary will likely come out to around $7 million. The 29-year-old hard-throwing right-hander should be the first closer off the board in fantasy drafts in 2024 after he posted an excellent 1.53 ERA (2.66 FIP), 0.92 WHIP, a career-high 36 saves, 28 walks and 87 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings over 61 appearances out of the bullpen. The two-time All-Star will be Milwaukee's locked-in closer heading into the 2024 season and has one of the nastiest changeups in the game.

Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams was named the 2023 Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year. It's the second time Williams has won the award after back-to-back lights-out seasons coming out of Milwaukee's bullpen. He had only 15 saves in 2022 but was the Brew Crew's unquestioned closer this year. The 29-year-old hard-throwing right-hander finished his fifth major-league season with an 8-3 record, 1.53 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 87 strikeouts and career-high 36 saves in 58 2/3 innings over 61 appearances in relief. Williams has proven the last two years that he is an elite fantasy closer with his swing-and-miss stuff.