Brandon Woodruff just can’t catch a break. The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander was already sidelined with an inflamed labrum, and now there’s another problem. According to reporter Sophia Minnaert, an MRI showed a new injury to the anterior shoulder capsule. His surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, will take a second look at the imaging.
This is the kind of update nobody wanted to hear. Woodruff has been limited to nine starts this season and 12 total appearances in 2025. Since 2022 — when he made 27 starts — the guy has barely been able to stay on the mound for more than a couple months at a time. That’s tough for a pitcher who’s been one of Milwaukee’s most reliable arms when healthy.
When Woodruff has actually pitched this year, he’s been effective. Through 45.1 innings, he’s posted a 2.98 ERA. That’s not a fluke either. The stuff still plays. He just can’t stay out there long enough to make a real difference over a full season. And now with a new structural issue in the shoulder, it’s fair to wonder if this becomes something more serious long-term.
Another setback for a pitcher who’s been through plenty
The anterior shoulder capsule injury is a new wrinkle in what’s already been a frustrating stretch. Woodruff returned to Milwaukee for the MRI, which suggests the team didn’t expect to find more damage. But here we are. Second opinions from Dr. Meister will help determine the next steps — whether that means more rest, rehab, or something else entirely.
For the Brewers, the timing is rough but maybe not disastrous. They have the second-best record in baseball at 58-33, trailing only the 60-33 Dodgers. They’re also seven games up in the NL Central. That cushion gives them some breathing room, but it doesn’t solve the problem of needing starting pitching depth down the stretch.
Milwaukee has a talented roster. Christian Yelich is doing his thing. The bullpen is solid. But the rotation is where things get dicey without Woodruff. The front office is probably already working the phones ahead of the trade deadline, and you can bet adding an arm is high on the list. Maybe even the top priority now.
We’ll keep an eye on Dr. Meister’s assessment and any word from the team. For now, Woodruff is in wait-and-see mode. And so are the Brewers.
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