MILWAUKEE — Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (right lat strain) will not be available for the National League Divisional Series against the Cubs, manager Pat Murphy said Friday.
The injury is unrelated to Woodruff’s surgically repaired shoulder that forced him to miss the entire 2024 season. Right-hander Quinn Priester, a Cary-Grove High School alum, will start Game 1.
“My main goal was to be healthy at the end of the year and pitching [in] the playoffs,” Woodruff said Friday. “Initially, it was a bummer, for sure.”
Woodruff, a two-time All-Star was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sept. 21 (retroactive to Sept. 18). His injury is a big loss to the Brewers’ rotation.
Friday’s announcement was a gut punch for Woodruff, who said he didn’t know if he was going to return to the majors after his nearly year-and-a-half absence recovering from right shoulder surgery.
Murphy downplayed the idea that Woodruff, who was 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA in the regular season, could appear in the National League Championship Series if the Brewers were to advance. Woodruff is still in the rehab stage and hasn’t begun throwing.
Despite the initial setback, Woodruff is trying to keep a positive attitude with his team competing against the Cubs. He desires to return this postseason, but understands that he can’t rush his recovery.
“I’ve been told it’s like a hamstring strain, you get [to] 99% [and] you feel great, [but] It’s that last 1% that can really affect you,” Woodruff said. “You really just have to make sure it’s 100% when it’s 100%. I’m trying every day to get to that point as quick as I can, and that’s kind of the way I’m approaching it.”
Woodruff has tried to relay to his teammates that despite the added attention in the postseason, the routine has to stay the same. Woodruff has started four playoff games over eight major-league seasons. He said he’s trying to be a sounding board for his teammates because he understands the team has an opportunity to reach its second World Series.
“There’s nothing like playoff games and being there with the guys,” he said.