A night after driving in five runs, reserve catcher Mike Rivera got on base four times, as the Brewers routed the Astros 11-2 at home.

Our View: With a .246 average and 11 RBI, he's still not someone to keep an eye on, but is someone to be happy for.

Rivera went 2-for-4 with two homers and five RBI in Thursday's win over the Padres.

Spin: These were the first two homers of the season for Rivera. He's flashed some hitting ability at times in a career that's consisted mostly of being a backup, and with the light-hitting Jason Kendall the only man ahead of him on the depth chart, Rivera might get the chance to hit his way into late-season relevance in NL-only leagues.Thu, Aug 13

After homering twice to beat the Padres Thursday, catcher Mike Rivera will draw a second start Friday. Rivera has been the Brewers' backup catcher all year long but only garnered 63 at-bats before Thursday. His strong showing comes at a time where the Brewers' offense is trying to click, so he'll be back in there at the expense of Jason Kendall. If he has another strong game, he could start eating into Kendall's playing time.Source: MLB.com Related: Jason Kendall

Weeks (wrist) was reinstated from the 60-day DL on Monday.

Spin: He's supposed to be ready for the start of spring training, but it's worth keeping an eye on the Brewers' moves this winter to see how much they invest in an insurance policy at second base.Mon, Nov 9

Brewers GM Doug Melvin has Weeks (wrist) penciled in as the club's starting second baseman heading into the 2010 season, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Spin: Weeks is expected to be fully recovered from his wrist injury by the time spring training rolls around. Melvin's declaration makes it unlikely that the Brewers would also carry Felipe Lopez, who was acquired mid-season from the Diamondbacks and is now a free agent, on the 2010 roster. Weeks was off to an excellent start in 2009 before a torn tendon sheath in his wrist derailed his season.Fri, Oct 9

During a season-ending press conference at Miller Park, GM Doug Melvin named Rickie Weeks as the Brewers' starting second baseman in 2010. "We view Rickie as our second baseman at this point," said Melvin. And they should, since Felipe Lopez is an impending free-agent and the Brewers have significant holes to fill in their rotation. During Friday's press conference, Melvin announced that he hopes to acquire two starting pitchers during the offseason. With that in mind, he hopes that resigning Trevor Hoffman will convince some free agent starters to come to Milwaukee.Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Related: Felipe Lopez

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi report other teams aren't sold on Milwaukee Brewers 3B Casey McGehee, despite his solid rookie campaign. Teams are still mindful that the Chicago Cubs waived him at the end of the 2008 season, and McGehee might not fetch a lot in a trade if the Brewers were to try to use him to acquire pitching.

The Brewers may be looking to deal third base prosepct Mat Gamel in exchange for starting pitching this offseson, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Gamel has been one of the top prospects in the Brewers' organization for the last few years.

Our View: The Brewers don't have a good spot for Gamel next season with the returning Ricky Weeks and the emergence last year of Casey McGehee. They desperately need to improve their rotation, and Gamel will be an excellent bargaining chip if they are willing to part with him.

Tom Haudricourt, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reports the Milwaukee Brewers are unlikely to move 3B Mat Gamel to the outfield to make room for 3B Casey McGehee next year.

Adam McCalvy, of MLB.com, reports Milwaukee Brewers 3B Adam Heether (rib cage) has returned home from the Venezuelan Winter League after straining a rib cage muscle. Assistant general manager Gord Ash is saying that Heether's injury is "very minor."

The Brewers added Heether to their 40-Man roster on Monday.

Spin: Heether, 27, hit .293/.400/501 with 16 home runs for Triple-A Nashville while playing multiple positions on the infield. The Brewers are interested in seeing if he could be used as a utility player in the majors.Mon, Nov 9

Heether was 3-for-4 on Tuesday for Triple-A Nashville.

Spin: Heether, 27, is having his best season in the minors, hitting .328/.421/.555. He's had an up-and-down career in the minors, but has always been able to get on base and play solid defense on the infield. It's quite possible that the Brewers will bring call him up and send Mat Gamel down to Triple-A so that Gamel can get consistent at-bats.Wed, Jul 8

News: Brewers slugger Ryan J. Braun swatted his 32nd home run on Saturday against the Cardinals. Braun smashed a two-run shot in the 1st inning off Kyle Lohse. He had two RBI and has 113 on the year. He went 2 for 5 on the day and is batting .319.

Analysis: Braun has hit in eight straight games as the year comes to a close and has six multi-hit performances over that span and three homers with 11 RBI. Braun remains a must-start Fantasy option and enters 2010 as one of the best Fantasy OFs in baseball worth an early pick on Draft Day

News: Milwaukee OF Ryan J. Braun hit his 31st home run of the season on Thursday in a 9-2 loss to the Rockies. He went 1 for 4 in the game with a solo home run and a strikeout.

Analysis: Braun hasn't hit as many homers as expected this season, but has still been productive enough remain a must-start the entire season. He'll again be one of the first outfielders taken on Draft Day 2010

News: Ryan J. Braun hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning Saturday to give Milwaukee a 7-5 victory over Philadelphia. It was Braun's 30th home run of the season and second career game-ending shot.

Analysis: Braun hasn't hit as many homers, but he remains as productive as ever in the other categories. Consider him a must-start in all leagues for the final Fantasy Week 26 (Sept. 28-Oct. 4)

News: Brewers RF Corey Hart's season is over after tests revealed possible compression fractures in the fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand, which he jammed going back to first base Tuesday night.

Analysis: Hart had a miserable 2009 season after showing so much promise coming into the year. Hart will certainly be a prime bounce back candidate in 2010 and should be considered a late-round sleeper for mixed leagues next spring, especially Rotisserie formats. This injury should not keep him out of the start of training camp next year

News: RF Corey C. Hart, who missed all of August and the start of September after undergoing an appendectomy, is trying to put on a strong finish. Hart has hit safely in seven consecutive games (8 for 24, .333).

Analysis: Hart is much better than he has shown this season. Consider him a late-round sleeper for mixed leagues next spring, especially Rotisserie formats

News: Brewers OF Corey C. Hart went 1 for 3 against the Phillies on Thursday and is now batting .205 (9 for 44) in September. He has only three extra-base hits for the month -- two doubles and a homer.

Analysis: Hart has been a disappointment in Fantasy this season, and his lack of power is a big reason why. Really, his numbers have dropped across the board. He might not go 10-10 this season after going 20-20 each of the last two seasons. He's at best a No. 5 OF in Fantasy and might even be on waivers in some leagues

MLB.com reports Milwaukee Brewers P Josh Butler threw three scoreless innings and took a share of the Arizona Fall League lead with his third win Tuesday, Nov. 3. He gave up just two hits while walking two and striking out four to lower his ERA to 10.13 in four starts.

MLB.com reports Milwaukee Brewers P Josh Butler threw three scoreless innings and took a share of the Arizona Fall League lead with his third win Tuesday, Nov. 3. He gave up just two hits while walking two and striking out four to lower his ERA to 10.13 in four starts.

Danny Wild, of MLB.com, reports Milwaukee Brewers P Josh Butler suffered his first loss in the Arizona Fall League Wednesday, Oct. 28, by giving up six runs and eight hits while walking three in three innings.

The Brewers have decided to shut Bush down for the season.

Spin: Bush was slated to start on Saturday, but the Brewers felt it was best if he shut things down for the season due to a fatigued arm. Bush hurt his triceps when he was hit by a pitch early in the season and never fully recovered. The Brewers hope that the offseason will heal him.Thu, Oct 1

Bush said he's still feeling arm fatigue and is worried about the risk associated with making one more start. Thus ends a very frustrating season for Bush, who has been a useful back-of-the-rotation type in deeper NL-only leagues over the last three years, but never got healthy enough to help this season. Bush's 6.38 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and .294 BAA were all the worst marks of his career.

Dave Bush (triceps) will likely be shut down for the season. He will probably skip his start on Saturday. "It's been a challenge," Bush said. "What you don't want to do is go out and do something stupid on Saturday and get myself in a position where it could affect me beyond that." Bush spent two months on the disabled list earlier this season with the triceps injury. Carlos Villanueva is one option to make Saturday's start.Source: MLB.com Related: Carlos Villanueva

News: Left-hander Manny Parra will undergo surgery on his left shoulder and infielder Casey McGehee will have arthroscopic right knee surgery Tuesday.

Analysis: Pitchers with shoulder woes are notoriously dangerous picks. Consider Parra nothing more than a late-round flier for 2010 at this point

Parra will have a minor shoulder clean-up on his AC joint on Tuesday, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports.

Spin: He's been dealing with discomfort in his shoulder for awhile, but the surgery is considered minor and shouldn't be anything that impacts Parra once spring training begins in February. All signs point to Parra getting another chance to earn a place in the Brewers' rotation next season.Mon, Oct 5

Parra will have a minor shoulder clean-up on his AC joint on Tuesday, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports.

Spin: He's been dealing with discomfort in his shoulder for awhile, but the surgery is considered minor and shouldn't be anything that impacts Parra once spring training begins in February.Mon, Oct 5

Brewers re-signed RHP Trevor Hoffman to a one-year, $7.5 million contract. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that the deal also includes a mutual $7 million option for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout. There are also incentives that could push the total value of the deal to $16.5 million depending on how many games Hoffman saves in 2010. Hoffman, who turns 42 on Tuesday, went 37-for-41 in save opportunities with a 1.83 ERA in 2009.

Updating a previous report, Tom Haudricourt, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reports Milwaukee Brewers RP Trevor Hoffman could earn as much as $8.5 million next season if he reaches all of his incentives for games finished, according to a source familiar with the talks. The buyout of his 2011 option is $500,000 but increases to $1 million if he finishes 44 games next year.

Reuters - All-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman will stay at the Milwaukee Brewers next season on a one-year deal, Major League Baseball website mlb.com reported on Monday.

News: Brandon Moss then a 3-1 pitch by Mitch Stetter (2-1) over the center-field wall for his fifth homer Wednesday. Stetter took the walk-off loss.

Analysis: Stetter hasn't been as good of late. Even when going well, consider him nothing more than a low-end middle reliever for the deepest of NL-only leagues that use true middle men

News: Brewers RP Mitch Stetter gave up a homer in his last outing on Sunday in a loss to the Dodgers. Stetter threw one inning and the homer was his only hit allowed. He also walked a batter. His ERA is at 2.76.

Analysis: Stetter has given up runs in two of his last three appearances for the Brewers. He has 14 holds on the season and one save but as just a middle relief option, we wouldn't own him in hardly any Fantasy leagues

News: LHP Mitch Stetter has not yielded a run in his past 14 appearances and has allowed only six of 34 inherited runners to score. Opponents are batting only .146 (13 for 89) against him.

Analysis: Stetter is a viable middle reliever for the deepest of NL-only leagues that use true middle men at this point

Brewers.MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports Milwaukee Brewers RP Carlos Villanueva is likely to remain in a relief role moving forward.

Villanueva earned his first start since Aug. 17, but the results weren't too different. After getting tagged for at least four earned runs in three of his six starts from July 28 - Aug. 17, Villanueva saw his ERA rise to 5.34 and his WHIP in increase to 1.43 to finish the campaign.

News: Milwaukee SP Carlos Villanueva improved to 4-10 on the season as he made his final start on Saturday against the Cardinals. He defeated St. Louis as he allowed four earned runs on five hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out four. His ERA is 5.34 on the year.

Analysis: Villanueva certainly wasn't overwhelmingly good in his win on Saturday in his final start. He'd been pitching out of the bullpen since mid-August as he'd really struggled as a starter. It is good he ended 2009 on a positive note but he'll have to earn any spot he receives in the rotation next season and should not be targeted on Draft Day

News: The Brewers purchased the contract of pitcher John Axford from the minor leagues Sunday.

Analysis: Axford is nothing more than a low-end middle reliever for the deepest of NL-only leagues that use true middle men at this point in his career

Brewers purchased the contract of RHP John Axford from Triple-A Nashville. Axford was 9-1 with a 2.77 ERA as a reliever on three different minor league levels this season. He'll operate in middle relief for the Brewers.

Riske (elbow) was added back to the team's 40-man roster on Monday.

Spin: He'll likely go right back on the DL at the start of the 2010 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June. Riske will be in the final year of a three-year contract that hasn't resulted in many productive innings out of the Milwaukee bullpen. It's possible that he'll return to contribute after the All-Star break.Mon, Nov 9

CBSSports.com reports the Milwaukee Brewers have removed 2B Rickie Weeks (wrist), RP Mark DiFelice (shoulder) and RP David Riske (elbow) from the 60-day disabled list.

CBSSports.com reports the Milwaukee Brewers moved RP David Riske (elbow) to the 60-day disabled list Thursday, June 4.