The Brewers introduced right now that they’ve positioned right-hander Brandon Woodruff on the 15-day injured record with a proper lat pressure. Woodruff’s IL placement is retroactive to September 18. Left-hander Robert Gasser was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding transfer and is slated to start out right now’s sport for Milwaukee.
Woodruff’s retroactive placement on the shelf signifies that he’ll be eligible to return in time for the beginning of the NLDS on October 4. In fact, that will require Woodruff to be shelved for less than a minimal stint on the IL, which is way from assured. Based on Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Woodruff is affected by a “reasonable” lat pressure within the phrases of supervisor Pat Murphy, and it’s too early to inform how Woodruff’s playoff availability could also be impacted by the damage. MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy experiences that Woodruff is seeing a health care provider in St. Louis right now to be able to get his damage assessed after the pressure occurred throughout the righty’s bullpen session on Saturday.
On the very least, the information brings Woodruff’s common season to an abrupt finish. Woodruff will finish the common season with 12 begins beneath his belt, and a 3.20 ERA/3.18 FIP in 64 2/3 innings of labor with a sensational 32.3% strikeout fee. Woodruff made simply 11 begins in 2023 because of shoulder points and finally went beneath the knife in October of that yr. That brought about him to overlook all the 2024 season, and an ankle damage throughout his rehab this season delayed his return to the massive league mound till early July. He instantly slotted again into the highest of Milwaukee’s rotation upon his return, and helped to maintain the new streak that thrust the Brewers to the very best file in all of baseball.
The timing of this newest ailment is unquestionably irritating for each the Brewers and Woodruff himself, given its proximity to the playoffs. Woodruff acknowledged as a lot himself in feedback made to reporters (together with McCalvy) this morning. Woodruff famous that he “wasn’t stunned” by the damage and famous he’s been managing his shoulder for a while, including {that a} setback may have occurred in June or July and that it’s simply “crappy timing” that this occurred to return up proper earlier than the postseason.
With Woodruff sidelined, the Brewers’ potential postseason rotation is in flux. Freddy Peralta and Quinn Priester look like locks to start out playoff video games, however there’s little certainty exterior of that. Woodruff would clearly get begins if and when he returns, and Jose Quintana may discover himself within the dialog as nicely relying on his personal restoration from damage. Whereas these two are shelved, nonetheless, they’ll doubtless be compelled to decide on between struggling rookie Jacob Misiorowski and fellow rookie right-hander Chad Patrick to spherical out the rotation. Maybe Gasser can put himself into the dialogue with a robust outing right now, however the southpaw has not but pitched within the majors this yr after present process elbow surgical procedure final yr and has simply 38 innings of labor within the minors beneath his belt this season.