Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff is officially out for the rest of the 2026 season, undergoing shoulder surgery for the second time in three years. This isn’t just a bump in the road for the Brewers; it’s a major blow for a guy who’s been battling like crazy.
Deja Vu All Over Again, And It’s Ugly
Man, this is tough to read. Woodruff, at 33, told reporters Saturday that he’s going under the knife to fix the anterior capsule in his right shoulder. We’re talking about the *same exact procedure* he had in 2023. Remember that? He missed the entire 2024 campaign and didn’t even get back on the mound until last July. Then he made 12 starts, put up a respectable 3.20 ERA with 83 strikeouts across 64 2/3 innings, only to have his season cut short again in September, that time from a right lat strain. Talk about gut-wrenching timing! The Brewers were even giving away Woodruff bobbleheads before Saturday’s game. Ouch.
He’s been on the injured list since July 5, battling right shoulder inflammation. You could see it coming, too. In his last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he left in the fourth inning, wincing after his 61st pitch. His fastball velocity was dropping like a stone, from 92.5 mph down to 86.6 mph. Brewers manager Pat Murphy didn’t mince words, saying Saturday, “I knew, when we went to the mound, it was bad.” Murphy even said Friday that “the outlook isn’t good.” Woodruff actually asked to move up his press availability to Saturday just to shut down all the speculation. This isn’t his first rodeo with shoulder issues this year either. Back in May, he hit the IL with shoulder inflammation, experiencing that “dead” arm feeling and decreased velocity, eventually getting a cyst removed and missing nearly two months. Just a brutal run of luck.
The Brewers’ Pitching Staff Faces A Grind
It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially since Woodruff was actually having a solid 2026 when he was out there, finishing with a 2.98 ERA in nine starts, 47 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings, and a 2-2 record. The Brewers, despite all this, still boast the top team ERA in the National League at 3.47, second only to the Yankees in all of MLB. But let’s be real, how long can they sustain that with these hits?
It’s not just Woodruff, either. They just put Kyle Harrison on the IL with left forearm tightness. Harrison, who’s been a beast with a 3.01 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings over 17 starts, is waiting on MRI results from the All-Star break, though he’s planning a bullpen session Saturday. The Brewers did snag Lance McCullers from the Houston Astros this week, but manager Murphy expects the nine-year veteran to start in the bullpen, at least initially. McCullers had a 6.86 ERA in eight starts with Houston, so he’s got work to do.
So, what’s next? For Woodruff, returning for the 2027 season is up in the air, which is a seriously scary thought. For the Brewers, they’ve got to find a way to patch up this rotation, and fast. McCullers stepping up becomes huge, and everyone’s holding their breath for Harrison’s MRI. It’s going to be a real test for that pitching staff moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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