The Milwaukee Brewers just made a move to add Lance McCullers Jr. from the Astros, and already the injury updates are rolling in. General manager Matt Arnold addressed the status of two key pitchers, and the news is a mixed bag.
Brandon Woodruff is dealing with a right anterior shoulder capsule issue. The Brewers moved him to the 60-day IL on July 12, meaning he can’t return until early September at the earliest. But realistically, the 33-year-old right-hander might be done for the year. Arnold told reporters the team is “still working through” the injury, which is not exactly a vote of confidence.
Woodruff has only pitched 45.1 innings this season, but when he’s been on the mound, he’s looked like his old self. 47 strikeouts, a 2.98 ERA, and a 0.838 WHIP. The problem is staying healthy. He’s a two-time All-Star, but the Brewers have had to manage without him for long stretches.
Kyle Harrison is a different story. The 24-year-old left-hander landed on the 15-day IL on July 11 with left forearm tightness, retroactive to July 9. The injury isn’t considered serious. Arnold said Harrison is “progressing and feeling pretty good over the break,” but he also made it clear they’re not going to rush him back. “It’s not something we want to rush there with him,” Arnold said.
Harrison has been a bright spot in the Brewers rotation. Through 83.2 innings, he’s got a career-best 3.01 ERA and a 1.076 WHIP, with 101 strikeouts. He’s 8-2 in 17 starts. For a team that’s been patching together its pitching staff, having Harrison healthy for the stretch run matters a lot.
The timing of these updates is interesting, coming right after the McCullers trade. Milwaukee clearly needed depth, and McCullers gives them another arm. But the Woodruff situation is the one that looms largest. If he can’t come back, that’s a huge hole in the rotation. Harrison should be back relatively soon, but forearm tightness is one of those things that can linger if you push it.
The Brewers aren’t exactly in a desperate spot, but they’re not coasting either. Every game counts, and the health of their arms will determine how far they go. For now, Arnold is playing it cautious, which is probably the smart play.
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