The Milwaukee Brewers received encouraging news about starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff on Saturday as they continued their series against the Atlanta Braves.
Woodruff, who has been sidelined with right shoulder inflammation, will not require surgery after all. MLB insider Curt Hogg shared the development after speaking with the veteran right-hander.
“Just talked with Brandon Woodruff, who in a twist didn’t need surgery and will start throwing progression Wed. As he exhausted his options pre-surgery, 4-week scan showed unexpected healing, so he went to Dr. Meister, who said surgery was not recommended. ‘I’m thankful,’ he said,” Hogg reported.
The 33-year-old had been preparing for an operation after leaving the club in late July. Follow-up imaging in early August and a consultation with Dr. Meister altered the course of his recovery.
Hogg outlined the next steps clearly.
“The plan is for Woodruff to have a throwing progression for 5 weeks, then reevaluate. He has no expectations/timetable after that. The plan was to get surgery when he left Milwaukee in late July, he reiterated, before scans in early August and Meister’s opinion changed things.”
Woodruff landed on the injured list earlier this season and was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day IL on July 12. Before the injury, he made nine starts for Milwaukee.
In those outings, he posted a 2-2 record with a 2.98 ERA, a 0.84 WHIP and 47 strikeouts. The strong early numbers had positioned him as a key part of the Brewers’ rotation before the shoulder issue forced him to the sidelines.
The update arrives while Milwaukee sits atop the National League Central. The Brewers hold a six-game lead over the Chicago Cubs and wider margins over the rest of the division: 14.5 games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals, 17.5 over the Pittsburgh Pirates and 19 clear of the Cincinnati Reds.
Friday night’s win pushed Milwaukee to 80 victories, making the club the first in Major League Baseball to reach that mark this season. The Brewers have built a comfortable cushion in the standings and continue to press forward with the postseason approaching.
In the series opener against Atlanta, young pitcher Jacob Misiorowski delivered a strong performance opposite Chris Sale. Misiorowski worked six innings, struck out six and walked two, earning player of the game honors in a tightly contested pitchers’ duel.
Saturday’s contest is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. Eastern time, with Martin Perez taking the mound for the Brewers against Logan Henderson of the Braves. The matchup offers another chance for Milwaukee to add to its win total while managing its pitching staff carefully.
Woodruff’s unexpected progress provides a potential boost for the stretch run. A successful five-week throwing program followed by a positive reevaluation could return a proven arm to the mix at a critical time.
For now, the organization and the pitcher himself are focusing on the measured path ahead. Woodruff has expressed gratitude for the turn of events, and the Brewers will monitor his progress closely as the regular season enters its final weeks.
The club remains in strong position in the division and shows no signs of easing off the accelerator. With the playoffs drawing nearer, every update on the health of key players carries extra weight.
Brewers fans have reason for optimism on multiple fronts as the team continues its push through the remainder of the schedule.
