Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Cleared to start throwing
Rotowire
Woodruff is tentatively slated to resume throwing Saturday after undergoing a minor procedure Tuesday to drain fluid from his inflamed right shoulder, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Milwaukee placed Woodruff on the 15-day injured list Friday, one day after he saw his fastball velocity drop to the mid-80s during an abbreviated start against the Diamondbacks. After being diagnosed with shoulder inflammation, Woodruff traveled to Dallas on Tuesday to be examined further by Dr. Keith Meister, a renowned shoulder/elbow specialist. Though the visit with Dr. Meister seemed to be a foreboding sign, Woodruff evidently received a favorable evaluation and will now begin gearing up for a return from the IL. According to McCalvy, manager Pat Murphy said that Woodruff won't require an extensive buildup and will likely need just a couple of bullpen sessions before rejoining the rotation, potentially as soon as he's first eligible to come off the IL on May 16.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Examined by Dr. Meister
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Woodruff traveled to Dallas on Tuesday to have his right shoulder examined by Dr. Keith Meister, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Woodruff went on the 15-day injured list last week with right shoulder inflammation after he had to exit his last outing when his fastball velocity sat in the mid-80s. The consensus seems to be that he's going through a "dead arm" phase, though it's an ominous sign that he's seeking out the opinion of Dr. Meister. The Brewers could have more information on Woodruff's status following Tuesday's exam.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Goes on IL with inflamed shoulder
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The Brewers placed Woodruff on the 15-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Woodruff was pulled from Thursday's outing against the Diamondbacks in the second inning after sitting in the mid-80s with his fastball velocity. Imaging came back clean, per Sophia Minnaert of Brewers.tv, as the veteran hurler appears to be going through a "dead arm" phase. When Woodruff is able to rejoin the Milwaukee rotation will depend on how he bounces back in the coming days, but he's expressed optimism that it will be close to a minimum absence. Logan Henderson is the most likely candidate to take Woodruff's spot in the Brewers' rotation.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Exits in second inning
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Woodruff was removed from Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks with an apparent injury, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Woodruff didn't give up a run during his start Thursday, but he managed to record just four outs while averaging 85 mph with his fastball -- a significant decrease from his 92.6-mph season average. The veteran righty battled problems with his lat coming into the season and missed time last year with shoulder, ankle and elbow injuries, though it's currently unknown what was troubling him Thursday.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Tagged with first loss
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Woodruff (2-1) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks over five innings against Pittsburgh. He struck out three.
The veteran right-hander started strong with two scoreless frames but allowed single tallies in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings. Woodruff delivered quality starts in his previous two outings but didn't come back out for the sixth inning Friday to end that streak. He's gone at least five frames in each of his five starts this year and has a 3.77 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 23:6 K:BB across 28.2 innings.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Another quality start
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Woodruff (2-0) earned the win against the Marlins on Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out four across seven innings.
It was a strong outing for Woodruff, who tossed 70 strikes on 92 pitches while generating 12 whiffs. He limited the Marlins to only four baserunners, with his lone blemish coming in the second inning, when he yielded an RBI single to Connor Norby. Woodruff has logged a quality start in two consecutive outings and has allowed three earned runs or less in three of four appearances this season. He'll take a 3.52 ERA and 0.96 WHIP (over 23 innings) into his next start, which is slated for next weekend at home against the Pirates.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Sharp in no-decision
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Woodruff settled for a no-decision Sunday against the Nationals, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk while striking out six in six innings of work.
Woodruff rebounded nicely Sunday from his last outing in which he allowed five runs. The 33-year-old was gotten to twice in the fourth inning, once via a James Wood solo homer and the other on a sacrifice fly. Despite not getting the result he was hoping for, it's a step in the right direction for the right-hander, who has had some early-season struggles and is sitting at a 4.32 ERA in 16.2 innings pitched on the year so far.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Stumbles in no-decision
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Woodruff took a no-decision Monday against the Red Sox, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out four.
Following an encouraging season debut against the Rays, when he fired five innings of two-run ball, Woodruff stumbled a bit in his second start. The right-hander was tagged for three extra-base hits Monday, though a fielding error by David Hamilton at least prevented each of the hurler's runs allowed to be earned in the fourth inning. A positive takeaway is that Woodruff launched 94 pitches -- he tossed just 67 in his 2026 debut -- and he has also a favorable home matchup versus Washington set for this weekend.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Notches win in season debut
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Woodruff (1-0) earned the win Tuesday versus the Rays, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks across five innings. He struck out six.
Woodruff was brought along slowly during spring training after finishing last season on the injured list due to a lat strain, and he was pulled after five frames and just 67 pitches (45 strikes) in his season debut Tuesday. The 33-year-old righty was able to work efficiently and pick up the win, with the only damage against him coming via a pair of solo home runs. Woodruff averaged 93.1 mph with his fastball, which is a couple ticks lower than he averaged prior to his 2023 shoulder surgery but is in line with what he posted in 12 starts during the 2025 regular season. He's likely to make his next start on the road in Boston early next week.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: First start scheduled for March 31
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Woodruff (lat) is scheduled to make his season debut March 31 at home against the Rays, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
It's the first confirmation that Woodruff -- who was brought along slowly this spring after finishing last season on the injured list with a right lat strain -- will avoid the injured list and get a start during the Brewers' first turn through the rotation. The veteran right-hander officially threw only five Cactus League innings, though he got in additional work in other settings. Still, the Brewers will keep a close eye on Woodruff's workload this season, especially early on.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Status for Opening Day still TBD
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Woodruff (lat) said Friday that his status for Opening Day remains "up in the air," Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Woodruff threw two innings in his Cactus League debut last weekend and tossed four frames in a simulated game Friday. The right-hander has been brought along slowly in Brewers camp after ending last season with a right lat strain, and while he's considered healthy, the buildup could continue after Opening Day. Woodruff also said that "maybe the majority" of his starts this season will be on five days' rest or more, and his "main goal" remains being healthy at the end of the season.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Starting Saturday
Rotowire
Woodruff (lat) will start for the Brewers in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Guardians.
Woodruff ended the 2025 season on the 15-day injured list due to a right lat strain. He was limited to mound work and live batting practices to open spring training, and the 33-year-old right-hander is ready to take the next step by pitching in a competitive setting Saturday. It's a positive sign that Woodruff will be on the Brewers' Opening Day roster.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Tracking toward avoiding IL
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The Brewers say Woodruff (lat) is "on track to begin the season in the rotation," Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Woodruff is scheduled for a two-up live batting practice session Sunday and then he will begin game progression, per Rosiak. This report comes one day after Woodruff said his Opening Day availability is "up in the air," so expect many more reports on Woodruff's status between now and the start of the season. Woodruff hasn't thrown 70-plus innings in the majors since 2022, so the Brewers will proceed with caution this spring in hopes of having him available for the postseason.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Opening Day 'up in the air'
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Woodruff (lat) said Monday that his Opening Day availability is "up in the air right now," Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Woodruff is a bit behind schedule in Brewers camp after he ended last season on the injured list with a right lat strain. He threw a live batting practice session Monday and will face hitters at least once more before perhaps being cleared to pitch in a game setting. Woodruff noted Monday that he's "in a good spot," but he did not want to commit to being ready once the regular season begins, saying his goal is to have a healthy season and "be available at the end of the year when it matters most." The righty held a 3.20 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 83:14 K:BB in 64.2 innings last season for the Brewers.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Scheduled for live BP on Monday
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Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that Woodruff (lat) will throw a live batting practice session Monday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
He will throw an additional couple live BP sessions after Monday before progressing to Cactus League outings. Woodruff is considered healthy, but the Brewers are slow-playing him this spring after his 2025 season ended due to a right lat strain. The veteran hurler held a 3.20 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 83:14 K:BB in 64.2 innings last season after making it back from shoulder surgery and returned to Milwaukee when he accepted the team's one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer in November.
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Brandon Woodruff: Receives qualifying offer
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The Brewers extended a one-year, $22.05 million qualifying offer to Woodruff (lat) on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Woodruff declined his $20 million mutual option earlier this week, and it's possible the veteran right-hander could do the same to Thursday's qualifying offer in search of a multi-year deal. Woodruff suffered a lat injury in late September, but he's expected to be a full-go for spring training. He logged a 3.20 ERA and an 83:14 K:BB across 64.2 innings spanning 12 starts in 2025.
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Brandon Woodruff: Passes on mutual option
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Woodruff (lat) became a free agent Monday after declining his $20 million mutual option for 2026, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
The option came with a $10 million buyout, leaving Woodruff with an easy decision to decline it. Woodruff posted a 3.20 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 83:14 K:BB over 64.2 innings covering 12 regular-season starts in 2025 before going down with a right lat strain in late September. He's expected to be ready for spring training. The right-hander will turn 33 in February and represents a high-risk, high-reward option on the free-agent market.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Unavailable for NLCS
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Woodruff (lat) said Sunday that he's yet to resume playing catch and won't be on the Brewers' roster for the NLCS against the Dodgers, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander landed on the injured list Sept. 21 due to a moderate right lat strain, so it's not a major surprise he's still not available just three weeks later. Woodruff could be added to the roster for the World Series if Milwaukee can get past Los Angeles, but the odds are stacked against him given where he currently stands in his recovery.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Out with moderate lat strain
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Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Sunday that Woodruff was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a moderate right lat strain, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, Woodruff suffered the injury on the 13th pitch of his bullpen session Saturday. After meeting with doctors in St. Louis on Sunday, Woodruff is scheduled to receive a second evaluation from Dr. Keith Meister, who performed surgery on the right-hander's shoulder in October 2023. The Brewers will await feedback from Dr. Meister before providing a timeline for Woodruff's return, though Murphy acknowledged that he's uncertain whether the 32-year-old will be ready to pitch in the NLDS, when he would first be eligible to return from the IL. However, given the initial diagnosis of a moderate lat strain rather than a mild one, Woodruff would appear to be a long shot to be available for the start of the Brewers' playoff run.
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Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Placed on IL with lat stsrain
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The Brewers placed Woodruff on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right lat strain.
Woodruff's surprise move to the IL comes after he allowed one earned run on two hits while striking out nine across five innings in his most recent start this past Wednesday against the Angels. The severity of Woodruff's injury isn't known, but the diagnosis of a right lat strain typically doesn't portend a brief absence. Woodruff will be eligible for reinstatement Oct. 3, one day before the start of the NLDS. According to Sophia Minnaert of FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, manager Pat Murphy said "it's too early to tell" whether Woodruff will be available for the start of the Brewers' postseason run.
