The Milwaukee Brewers made a roster move Wednesday as they prepared for the second game of their series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
After dropping the opener 6-4 on Tuesday, the club selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Lyon Richardson from Triple-A Nashville, the team announced. The corresponding transaction sent left-hander Colton Gordon to Double-A Biloxi.
Richardson, 26, has traveled a winding path to this latest opportunity. The former second-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2018 reached the majors with that organization in 2023.
He appeared in four games that year, one in 2024, and 34 in 2025. His career numbers through those stints stand at a 6.48 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings.
This season began with Cincinnati. Richardson allowed five earned runs across 1 2/3 innings in two outings before the Reds designated him for assignment.
He elected free agency and signed a minor-league deal with Milwaukee on June 10. The Brewers later selected his contract in August, only to designate him again.
Richardson again chose free agency and quickly returned on another minor-league contract. His lone appearance in a Brewers uniform this year produced 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
The timing of the promotion reflects Milwaukee’s current standing. The Brewers have already secured a top-two seed in the National League and a spot in the Division Series.
After wrapping the Phillies series, they will close the regular season with three games against the St. Louis Cardinals at home. Adding a pitcher with major-league experience, even one whose results have been mixed, gives manager Pat Murphy another option as the club manages innings and looks toward October.
Richardson’s fastball and slider combination has shown flashes, but command issues have limited his consistency.
At this stage of the season, the Brewers appear willing to give him another look rather than relying solely on unproven arms or overworking established relievers.
Whether he appears in Wednesday’s 5:40 p.m. CDT contest or later in the series remains to be seen, but the move itself signals a preference for known quantities as the playoffs approach.
For a team that has spent much of the year near the top of the standings, these late-September adjustments are less about desperation and more about fine-tuning. Richardson now has another chance to prove he belongs on a contending roster.
The Phillies, fresh off a win in the series opener, will present a stiff test if he is called upon. Milwaukee’s larger goal, however, is already in view: positioning itself for a deep postseason run.
