Soup's next start bumped back

Jeff Suppan’s next start has been moved back one day, allowing for three between-starts bullpen sessions instead of the right-hander’s usual two.

Suppan is 0-2 with a 12.91 ERA in his first two starts including a loss to the Cubs on Sunday in which he issued six walks, including three with the bases loaded. Manager Ken Macha, who met with Suppan on Tuesday afternoon, hopes the extra day helps Suppan sharpen up.

For his part, Suppan is on board with the plan.

“Absolutely,” he said. “It wasn’t a really big issue. [Macha] said, ‘This is what we were thinking,’ and I said, ‘All right.’”

A team off-day on Thursday allowed Macha to make the move without disturbing the rest of his starting rotation. Yovani Gallardo, who had command issues of his own in Monday’s loss to the Reds, will start in Suppan’s place on Saturday against Mets ace Johan Santana. Suppan will start Sunday opposite Mike Pelfrey.

UPDATE at 5:39 p.m. CT — Following the Jeff Suppan front, I wanted to pass along a link to an excellent piece at Brew Crew Ball that includes a rather remarkable stat.

“Lost cause” is too strong because we’re talking about two starts this season, but Suppan obviously needs to get that fastball working so he can play off it with his other pitches. Perhaps this extra day — not to mention a match-up against Pelfrey instead of Santana — will help.

I do know this: Suppan has a long leash. He’s making a lot of money, yes, but he also has what a lot of fans hate hearing about — a track record. At the risk of going all Dennis Green here, Suppan was exactly who the Brewers thought he would be in his first two seasons. He’s in a slump now, and there’s no way the Brewers just pull the plug without giving him time to find his command again.

UPDATE again — Fixed that link. Gave me something to do while watching the paint dry… er, while watching Manny Parra pick.