The Milwaukee Brewers suffered another significant setback to their pitching staff after right-hander Brandon Woodruff was diagnosed with an inflamed labrum and is expected to return to the injured list. The injury was confirmed following Milwaukee’s 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, marking another interruption in what has become a frustrating season for the two-time All-Star.
Woodruff exited Saturday’s game during the fourth inning after experiencing a noticeable drop in velocity. The change quickly caught the attention of manager Pat Murphy, pitching coach Chris Hook, and athletic trainer Brad Epstein, who visited the mound before deciding to remove the veteran from the contest.
The latest setback comes only weeks after Woodruff returned from a previous stint on the injured list. His comeback had provided optimism for Milwaukee’s rotation, particularly after he delivered two scoreless outings to begin his return. Unfortunately, the shoulder issue resurfaced before he could fully regain momentum.
For both Woodruff and the Brewers, the news represents another difficult chapter in an extended battle with injuries. Milwaukee now faces the challenge of replacing one of its most accomplished starters while continuing its push through the remainder of the regular season.
1. Velocity Drop Signals Another Injury Concern
Woodruff appeared to be in control early in Saturday’s start against Arizona, but signs of trouble emerged as the game progressed. His fastball, which had been sitting in the low 90s during the opening innings, declined sharply during the fourth inning, raising immediate concern among the coaching staff.
The decrease in velocity was not limited to his fastball. His changeup also lost several miles per hour as the outing continued, suggesting that something was physically affecting his ability to generate his normal pitching mechanics.
After throwing 61 pitches, Woodruff was removed from the game before completing the fourth inning. He finished with six strikeouts while allowing three earned runs on only two hits and one walk, but he was charged with the loss as Milwaukee fell 4-3 to the Diamondbacks.
Following the game, Murphy confirmed that the veteran had experienced another flare-up of inflammation in his shoulder labrum. The diagnosis means Woodruff will once again be sidelined after briefly returning to the Brewers’ rotation.
2. Comeback Cut Short Once Again
The injury is particularly disappointing because Woodruff had only recently completed another lengthy rehabilitation process. Earlier in the season, he postponed an anticipated return before finally rejoining the Brewers on June 22 after recovering from surgery to remove a cyst from his shoulder joint.
His first two starts after returning offered encouraging signs. Woodruff did not allow a run in either appearance, demonstrating that he could still perform at an elite level despite the time he had missed recovering from injury.
However, Saturday’s outing marked the third start of his comeback and quickly changed the outlook. The same shoulder inflammation that sidelined him earlier this season returned, ending another promising stretch before it could fully develop.
Woodruff has now been limited to only eight starts during the 2026 campaign. Even with the interrupted schedule, he entered Saturday with a remarkable 2.59 ERA and an impressive 0.84 WHIP, highlighting just how effective he has remained whenever healthy enough to take the mound.
3. Injuries Continue to Define Veteran’s Career
The latest setback extends an unfortunate trend that has followed Woodruff over the past several seasons. Since the beginning of 2023, the right-hander has made only 31 starts as recurring shoulder problems have repeatedly interrupted his career.
He missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing major surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder. His recovery also carried into the following year, limiting his availability and preventing him from consistently contributing to Milwaukee’s rotation.
Despite the injuries, Woodruff’s body of work with the Brewers remains among the most impressive in franchise history. Across nine seasons, he has compiled a 55-29 record with a 3.08 ERA in 150 appearances, establishing himself as one of the organization’s most dependable pitchers when healthy.
His finest campaign came in 2021, when he emerged as one of the National League’s premier starters by posting a 2.56 ERA over 30 starts and finishing fifth in Cy Young Award voting. Milwaukee will now hope that the latest injury proves to be only a temporary setback and that Woodruff can once again return to anchor the rotation later this season.