Brandon Woodruff Sidelined Again, Leaving Hole In Brewers' Rotation

[Steve Drumwright]

Image courtesy of Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Following another bout with his velocity dropping, Brandon Woodruff is sidelined again.

The Milwaukee Brewers placed the veteran right-handed starter on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Right-handed reliever Easton McGee was called up from Triple-A Nashville.

Woodruff left his start Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning. That came after a noticeable drop in his velocity in the first inning. In five starts this season, Woodruff had been averaging 92.5 mph on his four-seam fastball, which was down to 85.4 mph Thursday with a high of 86.9.

While the Brewers won the game 13-1, there was concern about Woodruff's status. The 33-year-old underwent an MRI exam while the game was still going and it was obvious he was headed for the injured list based on manager Pat Murphy's postgame comments.

Woodruff was set to hit free agency after last season, but accepted the qualifying offer of $22.025 million in the offseason to remain for what appears to be his final season with the Crew.

He is one of the most iconic pitchers in franchise history.

Woodruff underwent major shoulder surgery after the 2023 season, which caused him to miss all of 2024. After some other ailments pushed back the start of his 2025 to July, Woodruff returned almost as if he was never gone. But last season ended early due to a lat strain that caused him to miss the Brewers' postseason for the third straight year.

Now the Brewers must decide how to proceed without Woodruff. Left-hander Shane Drohan, who pitched four innings of relief following Woodruff's early exit, is one candidate. Right-hander Logan Henderson, currently at Triple-A Nashville, is another.

Still, Woodruff's leadership and presence will be felt in the short term.

 

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[JohnBriggs12]

Henderson has 26 K's, and a 1.02 ERA at Nashville in 17 innings.  He's a major league caliber starting pitcher with nothing to prove at AAA

[gregmag]

6 hours ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

Henderson has 26 K's, and a 1.02 ERA at Nashville in 17 innings.  He's a major league caliber starting pitcher with nothing to prove at AAA

Agreed, but the question is whether he’s stretched out enough or healthy enough or whatever the Brewers have been working on. He went 5 innings in his last start, but that was his first time going more than 3.1. 

The competition is stiff. The team wouldn’t be crazy to go with Drohan or Crow or Gasser. All these guys look like viable candidates to start games. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, gregmag said:

Agreed, but the question is whether he’s stretched out enough or healthy enough or whatever the Brewers have been working on. He went 5 innings in his last start, but that was his first time going more than 3.1. 

The competition is stiff. The team wouldn’t be crazy to go with Drohan or Crow or Gasser. All these guys look like viable candidates to start games. 

It looks to me like they'd trust Henderson a bit more than Gasser right now AFA starting & giving them at least a little length. But Drohan or Crow I agree are certainly viable options given the work they've turned in.