MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers went into Wednesday night 's game against Philadelphia in a pitching squeeze despite carrying 14 pitchers, the most of any staff in the major leagues.

So manager Ned Yost took the humorous approach to what he was hoping would be a one-night quandary.

"I turned to (pitching coach Mike Maddux) and said, 'April 22nd and we've effectively blown up the bullpen,' '' Yost recalled telling Maddux during Tuesday's extra-inning victory over St. Louis. "It took me all the way to April 22nd to wear everybody out."

Yost was poking some fun at himself as well as his many critics who contend Yost mismanages his bullpen, a claim many argued led to last year's struggles in the second half that cost the Brewers a playoff bid.

There are several reasons why Yost has had to use his bullpen so often this season. The Brewers haven 't had many breathers. Fifteen of the first 20 games have been decided by three runs or less, and seven of those have been decided by one run. The closer the game, the more moves Yost will make with the bullpen.

It also hasn't helped that six games went into extra innings.

The bullpen's difficulties also can be directly tied to the inability of starters to get through six innings.

That happened in 10 of the Brewers' games, one reason Yost went into Wednesday's game with the Phillies with a bullpen essentially limited to three pitchers -- left-hander Mitch Stetter, and right-handers Derrick Turnbow and Seth McClung.

Yost also was hoping starter Dave Bush would work deep into the game, even if his pitch count reached well over 100.

The Brewers have been getting solid work from their top starters. Ben Sheets, who missed his scheduled Wednesday start because of soreness in his triceps, has gone past the sixth inning in three of four starts. The only time he didn't was when Yost pulled him after five innings Friday in Cincinnati when his arm acted up. Jeff Suppan has worked into the seventh inning in three of his four starts, while Yovani Gallardo worked seven in his season debut Sunday against the Reds.

But Manny Parra made it through five innings Tuesday, his longest outing in four starts, Carlos Villanueva has made it into the seventh twice in four starts, while Bush had done it just once in his first three starts.

"A starter goes five innings, that puts a lot on the bullpen," Parra said.

Yost takes some consolation in the fact the Brewers are not the only team facing these circumstances.

"This isn't a Milwaukee Brewers issue," he said. "Everybody in baseball is facing this."

Around the horn

With the return of center fielder Gabe Kapler to the starting lineup, Yost moved shortstop J.J. Hardy back to the seventh spot, his likely home for a while. Yost said center fielder Mike Cameron, whose suspension ends after Sunday's game, will be his regular No. 2 hitter. ... Tony Gwynn Jr. returned from his rehab assignment but is not likely to start until Sunday when Florida will throw right-hander Ricky Nolasco. ... Kapler has not started since April 13. He injured his right shoulder April 15 during batting practice.