Thornburg could end up closing for Brewers

SAN DIEGO — With Jeremy Jeffress traded to Texas and Will Smith to San Francisco, Tyler Thornburg was a hot name on the fantasy baseball waiver wire Monday as the Brewers regrouped in the wake of an active nonwaiver Trade Deadline.

Manager Craig Counsell stopped short of anointing Thornburg as Milwaukee’s new closer — “We don’t have to, like, knight them,” he joked of evolving roles — but did say the Brewers were likely to “move everybody back” in the bullpen. That would mean a high profile for Thornburg, who entered Monday’s game against the Padres with a 2.32 ERA and two saves in 44 appearances mostly in the seventh- and eighth innings.

Thornburg has the stuff to close. Working with a fastball that has averaged a career best 94.2 mph and the team’s best curveball, the right-hander has held opponents to a .182 average with 12.45 strikeouts per nine innings, 14th among Major Leaguers who have logged at least 30 innings, and just off Aroldis Chapman’s 12.86. During one stretch in May and June, Thornburg set a franchise record for relievers by retiring 26 consecutive …

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