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.

Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said Wednesday that Williams (back) is expected to be out until around the All-Star break, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Initial estimates in mid-March when Williams was diagnosed with two stress fractures in his back had the closer missing three months. Arnold's timetable appears to be more conservative than that, although with Williams yet to resume baseball activities any timetable is approximate at this juncture. Abner Uribe has been serving as the Brewers' closer early on this season.

The Brewers transferred Williams (back) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

The move doesn't change Williams' timetable, as he is slated to be out until at least mid-June while recovering from two stress fractures in his back. Kevin Herget will take Williams' spot on the 40-man roster.

The Brewers placed Williams (back) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Williams isn't expected to resume throwing for another month and likely won't be ready for game action until around midseason while he recovers from two stress fractures in his back, so he could be a candidate to move to the 60-day IL the next time the Brewers need to open up room on the 40-man roster. The Brewers have yet to anoint a new closer in place of Williams, but Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe and Joel Payamps look to be the early frontrunners to contend for save chances.

Williams was diagnosed with two stress fractures in his back Wednesday and will miss approximately three months, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams had pitched through back soreness toward the end of last season, and he saw a back specialist Wednesday after the soreness returned during spring training. Williams will be shut down from throwing for six weeks before beginning a six-week rehab program, lining him up to return sometime during June. Losing Williams is a huge blow to the Brewers after the 29-year-old closer posted a 1.53 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 2023 while racking up 87 strikeouts across 58.2 innings and tallying 36 saves en route to winning his second NL Reliever of the Year Award. It's unclear who will replace Williams as Milwaukee's primary closer to begin the season, but Joel Payamps and Abner Uribe figure to be likely candidates.