Burns to be in uniform tonight

As assistant GM Gord Ash promised earlier this week, the Brewers recalled right-hander Mike Burns last night and will have him in the bullpen for tonight’s series opener against the Astros. Burns arrives as insurance for both Manny Parra, who remains indefinitely sidelined by a neck injury, and Yovani Gallardo, whose status should become more clear later today. Gallardo is completely healthy, as far as we know, but Brewers officials are once again exploring ways to limit his innings.

Burns was 3-5 with a 6.10 ERA in eight starts and five relief appearances during his earlier stints with the Brewers. In his 14 starts at Triple-A Nashville, he was 8-3 with a 2.62 ERA. He last pitched in Nashville’s season finale and went the distance, allowing 10 hits but only two runs with eight strikeouts in his second complete game of the year.

That game was on Sept. 7. Since then, Burns had packed up in Nashville and made the long drive home to Southern California for the winter. Turns out his season wasn’t quite over.