Swarzak stabilizing Brewers' bullpen

The Anthony Swarzak deal is paying dividends for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Swarzak has allowed just one earned run in six appearances for the Brewers, while their bullpen, a source of consistent stress for manager Craig Counsell this season, has stabilized since the trade.

The Brewers' bullpen has a combined 1.69 ERA since Swarzak's first appearance (July 28, a 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs), and is averaging 13.9 strikeouts per nine innings, both good enough for first in the majors over that span.

For Swarzak, the Brewers' upcoming series against the Minnesota Twins will be a homecoming of sorts.

The 31-year-old reliever was drafted by the Twins in 2004, and pitched at Target Field from 2011-14, including two games against the Brewers in which Swarzak was credited with a win.

With second-year pitcher Brent Suter set to take the mound Monday, Swarzak may not have much to do in the series opener.

Suter has the lowest ERA of any left-handed rookie (he made 14 appearances for the Brewers last year, but pitched just 21 2/3 innings) in Brewers history, a list that also features FOX Sports Wisconsin analyst Jerry Augustine.

He's allowed 10 earned runs in 35 1/3 innings of work since joining the Brewers' rotation full time in early July.

Statistics courtesy of STATS LLC