A Schelling For Your Thoughts

Weeks to remain in lineup unless ankle acts up

MILWAUKEE — As long as his ankle is fine, Rickie Weeks is going to stay in the Brewers’ lineup.

Despite his struggles offensively in the first four games of the National League Division Series, it is not likely Weeks will come out of the lineup unless he tells manager Ron Roenicke there’s something wrong with his left ankle, which he severely sprained in late July.

“You guys still see the ankle, it isn’t right. We knew it wouldn’t be,” Roenicke said. “But we were hoping offensively that he would get locked in and be able to really hold down that fifth spot, which we’ve talked about all year.”

Weeks has batted just .067 (1-for-15) through four postseason games, including an 0-for-5 performance Wednesday in Game 4 in which he left six runners on base.

In 14 games, Weeks hit .243 in September with one home run, one double and six RBIs. Weeks returned Sept. 10 after missing 41 games with the ankle injury.

But while Weeks hasn’t provided the type of protection the Brewers would like in the No. 5 spot behind cleanup hitter Prince Fielder, it remains up to the health of his ankle whether he’ll play in Game 5 or any other games this postseason.

“Unless he comes in and unless something is going on with the ankle that he would say, ‘You know something, I’m really not close to 100 percent,’ then maybe something would change,” Roenicke said. “Those things are hard to do.”

Greinke to be available in ‘pen for Game 5

MILWAUKEE — If needed, Zack Greinke will be available out of the Brewers’ bullpen Friday for Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the D-backs.

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke opted to bring back Game 1 starter Yovani Gallardo on extra rest for the final game of the series, rather than pitch Greinke on regular rest. But with it being an elimination game, Greinke will be one of the top options out of the bullpen if needed.

“Zack would be available, and not just if Yo isn’t pitching well,” Roenicke said. “Who knows, [Gallardo] could get a line drive back off a leg or something, and he’s got to come out. So Zack will be available tomorrow.”

Roenicke said he already has had a conversation with Greinke about a potential relief appearance in Game 5. Greinke pitched as a reliever in 2007, when after eight starts he was moved to the Royals’ bullpen for nearly four months.

Greinke is 5-1 with a 3.62 ERA in 41 career relief appearances, picking up one save. He last pitched out of the bullpen on Aug. 20, 2007.