Heading into the season, there was a strong belief that Brandon Woodruff would need to serve as the unquestioned ace of the Milwaukee Brewers rotation. While the Brewers have since found other pitchers capable of carrying that responsibility, Woodruff’s return could still provide a major boost to the club.
Woodruff’s season was interrupted after just six starts when he was placed on the injured list in late April due to what was described as a “dead arm” issue. The problem was accompanied by a noticeable drop in velocity, raising concerns about both his effectiveness and his short-term availability.
In his absence, the Brewers have received outstanding contributions from emerging arms. Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison have rapidly elevated their status within the pitching staff, developing into key pieces of the rotation and helping stabilize the team during Woodruff’s recovery.
Now, with Woodruff nearing a return, Milwaukee could be getting an important reinforcement at the perfect time. Even if he is no longer required to shoulder the burden of being the staff ace, the veteran right-hander has the talent and experience to thrive as a dependable third starter. Adding a healthy and productive Woodruff behind the Brewers’ top options would significantly strengthen the rotation and give the club greater depth as it pushes through the remainder of the season.
On Tuesday, Woodruff made his second rehab start, pitching for High-A Wisconsin in Davenport, Iowa against the Kansas City Royals’ affiliate. It was a smashing success, and now there seems to be a chance that Woodruff’s next outing could come in the majors.
Woodruff’s positive rehab outing raises questions
Woodruff made it through 5 1/3 innings on 82 pitches, allowing three earned runs and striking out six batters. It’s hardly a concern that he had one rough inning (the fifth, with two hits, a walk, and two runs in) when he hit his target pitch limit for the evening and made it into the sixth.
According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, Woodruff and the Brewers will likely discuss next steps on Wednesday. Does he need another rehab start, or could he pitch for Milwaukee early next week against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds?
As the highest-paid pitcher the Brewers have ever had for a single season, one might think Woodruff’s return came with high stakes. But Misiorowski and Harrison have done their best to diminish those stakes, which opens up a world of fun possibilities for this rotation at its peak.
What if Woodruff comes back and is close to his peak form? The two-time All-Star has pitched to an ERA under four every season since 2018, so the only times he hasn’t been helpful to this Brewers team have been his elongated stints on the IL.
Having Woodruff healthy for the playoffs, which he hasn’t been since 2021, is really all that matters right now. It will be intriguing to follow when his next start comes, but a delay now is worth increasing the odds that he’ll be set up for success in October.
