Williams (back) will appear in a rehab game at Triple-A Nashville on Saturday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams was outstanding in his first rehab appearance, striking out all three batters he faced last Saturday at High-A Wisconsin. He'll now move up to Nashville in order to face some tougher competition, and he may return to the Brewers' bullpen before the end of the month if he continues to dominate.

Williams (back) struck out all three batters he faced in a perfect inning during his rehab appearance Sunday with High-A Wisconsin.

EDGE Analysis

Williams has been on the shelf all season while recovering from a pair of stress fractures in his back, but he didn't exhibit any signs of rust in his first game action of 2024. He needed just 14 pitches to strike out the side and generated four swings and misses during his brief time on the mound. The Brewers may have Williams shift his rehab assignment to Double-A Biloxi or Triple-A Nashville for a tougher test following the All-Star break, but the right-hander may not require too many more tune-up outings in the minors if he continues to look as sharp as he did Sunday. Williams should eventually supplant Trevor Megill as the Brewers' preferred option to close games once he's reinstated from the 60-day injured list.

Williams (back) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Wisconsin on Saturday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

After he tossed a live batting practice session Tuesday in Milwaukee without incident, Williams will move on to the final stage in his prolonged recovery from a pair of stress fractures in his back, an injury he suffered in spring training. As a late-inning reliever, Williams won't require an extensive buildup, but he's still likely to remain on his minor-league rehab assignment once the Brewers open their post-All-Star-break schedule July 20. A return from the 60-day injured list before the end of July can't be discounted, however, especially if Williams looks healthy and pitches effectively during his time in the minors. Once activated, Williams should settle back in as Milwaukee's closer after he racked up 51 saves and posted a 1.73 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 126 appearances between the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Williams (back) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Tuesday at American Family Field, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams began throwing off a mound in late June, and it didn't take long for him to be cleared to face live hitters. The right-hander will require a minor-league rehab assignment before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list, though it's unclear how many outings he might need. The Brewers have been targeting the July 30 trade deadline as a general target date for Williams' return.

Williams threw 20 pitches during a bullpen session Wednesday and is scheduled for another 20-pitch session over the weekend, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams utilized his full arsenal during Wednesday's session and is on track to throw off the mound again this weekend. Additionally, Williams is scheduled to throw live batting practice July 9. Regardless, he should be back with the Brewers sometime in July.

Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said Wednesday that Williams (back) could return from the 60-day injured list sooner than his initial mid-to-late-July recovery timeline, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams was scheduled for a bullpen session Wednesday, which would have marked his first time throwing off a mound since being shut down during spring training with multiple stress fractures in his back. He will need to throw off the bump multiple times and eventually go out on a rehab assignment before being activated. That said, while Williams still has multiple checkpoints to hit in his rehab program, he looks to be in a good spot with his recovery.

Williams (back) is set for a mound session Wednesday in Milwaukee.

EDGE Analysis

Williams is poised for the next big milestone in his recovery from the multiple stress fractures in his back that have sidelined him for the entirety of the 2024 campaign to this point. If the 29-year-old can avoid any setbacks, he remains on track to return to the Brewers' bullpen in late July, likely after the All-Star break. The mound session Wednesday is just the tip of the iceberg in his recovery though, as Williams will likely throw multiple bullpen sessions before a lengthy rehab assignment down the road.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Saturday that Williams (back) is expected to be cleared to throw off a mound soon, Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Murphy also added that Williams remains on track to return just after the All-Star break, although that would seem to be a tentative timetable given that the reliever has yet to resume throwing off a mound. Williams is working his way back from multiple stress fractures in his back. Trevor Megill has operated as the Brewers' primary closer with Williams on the shelf.

Williams (back) played catch before Saturday's game against the Astros, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Saturday marks the first time Williams has done any sort of throwing since being shut down during spring training due to multiple stress fractures in his back. The 29-year-old closer still has a long way to go before the Brewers can think about sending him out on a minor-league rehab assignment, but he is certainly trending in the right direction. He's expected to rejoin Milwaukee's bullpen near the All-Star break.

Manager Pat Murphy said Friday that Williams (back) is scheduled to begin playing catch within the next two weeks, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams will be looked at by a doctor within the next few days, which will help determine how far away he is from beginning a throwing program. Though he seems to be trending in the right direction, the 29-year-old closer is still not expected back until around the All-Star break.