Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said Brandon Woodruff will rejoin the Brewers’ rotation during the Cincinnati series, a major boost as the club eyes its push in the NL Central.
The Milwaukee Brewers can’t stop thinking about Friday night in Atlanta—but the calendar now carries a different kind of relief.
On Friday, Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Brandon Woodruff will rejoin the Brewers’ rotation during the Cincinnati series. Woodruff has been dealing with a shoulder injury, and the right-hander has been working his way back to the role that makes Milwaukee’s starting staff click.
The 33-year-old has managed to stay productive for much of the season, even with the time lost to the injury. Woodruff has been limited to only six starts so far, turning in a 3.60 ERA during that span. He is also a two-time All-Star. and the Brewers view his return as more than just a roster update—it’s leverage in a tight division race.
Milwaukee is scheduled to begin a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves on Friday night. The Brewers are entering that opener with a 45-27 overall record. They sit just a half-game behind the Atlanta Braves for the second best record in the National League. while the Los Angeles Dodgers are leading the way with a 48-27 mark.
In the National League Central. the margin looks even more decisive: the Brewers hold a 5.5 game lead over the second place St. Louis Cardinals. That cushion matters. but it also raises the pressure to keep stacking strong performances—because the team is trying to hold and expand control of the division.
The sequence is straightforward: Woodruff’s shoulder injury kept him to six starts and a 3.60 ERA. yet his timeline now points to an imminent return during the Cincinnati series. With the Brewers already carrying momentum into Atlanta on Friday night. that return could sharpen Milwaukee’s ability to keep distance in the NL Central.
For now, the focus is the Braves. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 PM EST.
Milwaukee Brewers Brandon Woodruff Pat Murphy MLB shoulder injury Cincinnati series NL Central Atlanta Braves St. Louis Cardinals Los Angeles Dodgers