"When right-hander Zack Greinke suffered a cracked rib at the outset of spring camp while playing pick-up basketball, the original hope was that, with scheduled off days in April, he would miss only his first two starts for the Brewers.

Manager Ron Roenicke conceded Wednesday that Greinke probably will be absent longer than that.

"It may be a little longer than I thought it would be," said Roenicke. "I was planning on (missing) two (starts) and for the third, we were going to see how it went.

"I still have my mind set that way but it could very well be three (missed starts)."

Greinke is doing long-toss as he works through his throwing program. He has yet to get back on the mound but Roenicke said that shouldn't be too far off."