Woody in 2026?

[Trail]

Has anything at all been said about Woodruff's progress throwing?  He originally said 5 weeks or so.  We're at around 4, so I'm curious.  Long shot, I realize, but worth at least asking about....

[Baldkin]

From McCalvy:

 

Latest from the Brewers on Brandon Woodruff: He’s throwing out to 105 feet. The plan is to “re-evaluate for mound readiness at the end of September. Return TBD.”

[Team Canada]

“I’m still doing my daily throwing and progression, and seeing where that’s going to put me at. I don’t really know what the future holds, but I’m doing good right now. 

“I’m daydreaming about getting the last out of the World Series. I don’t know if that will happen, but I’m going to do everything I can to put myself in a position to do it.”

https://www.mlb.com/brewers/news/christian-yelich-brandon-woodruff-celebrate-as-remaining-2018-brewers-teammates

[bm1090]

Assuming he's healthy and effective, would love to see him in the bullpen. Woodruff, Romero, Ashby, Megill, Uribe, Patrick gives you a lot of good playoff options.

[MoreTrife]

Which pitcher out of the 12 or 13 do you replace?

Miz, Henderson, May, Gasser...Harrison

Ashby, Patrick, Drohan, Hall

Uribe, Megill, Romero, Senzatela

If carrying 13 I guess Harrison. If 12 I don't see anyone I'd want out and Woody in. I love Woody but jumping right in to playoff baseball after a long time off seems very dangerous. His velo will probably be at 90 mph max. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

6 minutes ago, MoreTrife said:

Which pitcher out of the 12 or 13 do you replace?

Miz, Henderson, May, Gasser...Harrison

Ashby, Patrick, Drohan, Hall

Uribe, Megill, Romero, Senzatela

If carrying 13 I guess Harrison. If 12 I don't see anyone I'd want out and Woody in. I love Woody but jumping right in to playoff baseball after a long time off seems very dangerous. His velo will probably be at 90 mph max. 

Drohan

[liveforoctober]

I don't know what the right answer is..

But Woodruff succeeding in a crucial playoff moment this year will be a top all time Brewers fandom moment given everything he and we have been through.

[AKCheesehead]

2 hours ago, MoreTrife said:

Which pitcher out of the 12 or 13 do you replace?

Miz, Henderson, May, Gasser...Harrison

Ashby, Patrick, Drohan, Hall

Uribe, Megill, Romero, Senzatela

If carrying 13 I guess Harrison. If 12 I don't see anyone I'd want out and Woody in. I love Woody but jumping right in to playoff baseball after a long time off seems very dangerous. His velo will probably be at 90 mph max. 

I think Harrison based on what we’ve seen lately I just can’t imagine him being on a postseason roster at all. I think an offseason of rest, strengthening and work is going to serve him well. I wouldn’t be opposed to him starting the resting right now, honestly. But that’s just from my perspective and the little I see. 

[Thurston Fluff]

Senzatela would be my pick. It'd be a righty for a righty move and he hasn't shown any particular reason to keep him on a playoff roster for anything other than saving the rest of the pen for a day.

[Jopal78]

2 hours ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

Drohan

Right on. He has an ERA of over 6.00 across his last 48 innings. With 8 gopher balls. He allowed but six homers in his first 70 innings. 

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Gonna be honest here ... unless Woody can logically serve a useful and valuable purpose, he has no business being anywhere close to the active playoff roster. I love what the guy has given the team over the years, but we have what very well may be the most complete team in the Brewers' playoff history, and it is going to take an "all hands on deck" approach, especially considering the lack of experience and MLB innings in our current rotation, to get through the Phillies and Dodgers of the world. 

That said, the Brewers brain trust, especially when it comes to pitching, has earned a lot of trust, and if they were to make the decision to activate Woody at any time during the upcoming playoff run, what a terrific story it would/could make.

[Samurai Bucky]

If Woody does make the postseason roster and gets hurt, what is the protocol?  Too bad, so sad, or does the Crew get to "call someone up?"

[thebruce44]

28 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

If Woody does make the postseason roster and gets hurt, what is the protocol?  Too bad, so sad, or does the Crew get to "call someone up?"

You are allowed an injury substitution.

The only reason I think this carries some weight is that Woody did come back from an extended absence and pitched well until the injury resurfaced. He doesn't strike me as the type of player who is going to show rust in a playoff moment. If he is healthy enough to pitch for a full series, I would love to see him replace someone on the bubble.

[torts]

He can also come off the bench 

[Turning2]

3 hours ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

Gonna be honest here ... unless Woody can logically serve a useful and valuable purpose, he has no business being anywhere close to the active playoff roster. I love what the guy has given the team over the years, but we have what very well may be the most complete team in the Brewers' playoff history, and it is going to take an "all hands on deck" approach, especially considering the lack of experience and MLB innings in our current rotation, to get through the Phillies and Dodgers of the world. 

That said, the Brewers brain trust, especially when it comes to pitching, has earned a lot of trust, and if they were to make the decision to activate Woody at any time during the upcoming playoff run, what a terrific story it would/could make.

Really hope the brain trust proceeds with their heads and not their hearts or out of some sense of loyalty, a need to justify his salary or appealing to fan sentimentality. And I hope he is truthful to them in how his arm feels rather than lying just for a chance to ride the ride with them. Would be great if he could be available to work a few bullpen innings effectively, and that would add to the lore if they reach the show. 

[pitchleague]

I can really only see him out on World Series roster.  That gives him the maximum time to recover and rehab and then, if he gets in, hopefully it’s a chance to fulfill his daydream (or something similar) and leave it all on the field, even if it ends his career.  Would be a sweet way to go out!

 

[Jim French Stepstool]

If only this whole process had started a couple weeks sooner than it did. Then you'd have an opportunity to see him throw a couple games in Nashville. Now, you're down to having him throw to some kids in Arizona, or simulated games here. Makes it tougher.

I agree with @pitchleague, you'd have to advance to the CS or WS for it to be viable.

[thebruce44]

The truth is we really don't know and wont until we see the playoff roster. It seems silly to speculate on his health or that he might be dishonest with the team. Hopefully he is focused on recovery and making the necessary progress.

[CheezWizHed]

On 9/16/2026 at 5:35 PM, torts said:

He can also come off the bench 

Woody taking Kershaw and then Ohatani deep would be something! 😂

[AKCheesehead]

I know it’s not the case but I would love it if we were actually just dodgersing with Woodruff. Haven’t seen any updates since the “throwing 105 feet “ one. 

[brewmann04]

Cant see Woody coming back to pitch this season 

[Samurai Bucky]

3 hours ago, brewmann04 said:

Cant see Woody coming back to pitch this season 

I agree.  However, if I hear someone saying the following words, I know I will be proven wrong:

Longing, rusted, seventeen, daybreak, furnace, nine, benign, homecoming, one, freight car.

For those who don't know, that is the code words for the Winter Soldier.  Does Woody have a new arm, yet?

In all seriousness, I don't see how he would be reliable unless he could throw like Doug Jones.  He could fall off the cliff quickly like he did in Arizona.  As a fan, I appreciate that he is working his tail to get back, but I would rather see him get healthy... whatever that looks like.

[RWeeksFan23]

20 hours ago, AKCheesehead said:

I know it’s not the case but I would love it if we were actually just dodgersing with Woodruff. Haven’t seen any updates since the “throwing 105 feet “ one. 

dodgersing? that's a new one. what does that mean?

[formerlybis]

55 minutes ago, RWeeksFan23 said:

dodgersing? that's a new one. what does that mean?

I assume it means shutting a premium pitcher down in the regular season to keep him fresh for the postseason while having a "free" extra roster spot on your 40-man during the regular season.  Like they seem to do...

[hawing]

I promise I am not given to conspiracy theories, but I have low key fantasized about what dodgersing the Brewers might employ this year.  (Of course, the Dodgers are no doubt dodgersing too.)