The Milwaukee Brewers enter the postseason with one of the most balanced rosters in the National League–a blend of powerful bats, bullpen weapons, and a rotation that, when healthy, can match up with anyone. Central to that identity has been Brandon Woodruff, the homegrown ace who, when locked in, gives Milwaukee a true No. 1 alongside Freddy Peralta. Fans had circled his return as a potential turning point, a chance to ride two dominant arms deep into October.
But as every baseball October reminds us, health can swing a series before the first pitch is even thrown. The Brewers find themselves facing a cruel twist: their rotation plans for the NLDS have been forced into flux, and Woodruff’s role is suddenly uncertain. Only after months of tireless rehab from shoulder surgery did a new obstacle appear, leaving the Brewers to answer postseason questions without their most reliable answer on the mound.
Woodruff Out for NLDS, Return Uncertain
The Milwaukee Brewers confirmed that Woodruff will not be available for the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs. Manager Pat Murphy explained that even if the Brewers advance, Woodruff’s readiness for the later rounds is “a little early” given his current recovery timeline.
“We’re very disappointed to announce that,” Murphy said. “I think everyone anticipated that, but we wanted to be sure. We wanted to get all the opinions, so we’re going to move forward from there.”
Woodruff had been building momentum after returning from shoulder surgery, only to suffer a lat injury in mid-September that derailed those plans. Though his surgically repaired shoulder is reportedly “100 percent healthy,” the new injury complicates things and puts his postseason contribution in serious doubt.
Not having Woodruff is a serious blow. In 12 starts this season, he posted a 3.20 ERA, struck out 84 batters in 63 innings, and carried a stingy 0.91 WHIP–metrics that would have made him a near-automatic Game 2 starter behind ace Freddy Peralta. Removing that weapon from the rotation forces the Brewers to shuffle their postseason plans.
In his absence, Milwaukee will likely lean harder on bullpen depth and bullpen usage in the early rounds. The rotation might have to stretch arms, adjust rest days, and juggle matchups more aggressively. Given Woodruff’s form when healthy, the team loses not just innings, but an ace-level presence that can flip a series.
“You want to see that all the way through. There’s an opportunity for him to come back, but it’s day-to-day. … He wants to be a big part of this and he’s going to keep working to be a big part of this,” Brewers general manager, Matt Arnold, said.
Woodruff’s Journey
Woodruff’s road has been arduous. He missed over a year and a half rehabbing from shoulder surgery, a long slog that tested his physical resilience and mental resolve. That return had the promise of resurgence when he began to show flashes of dominance. But the lat injury throws a wrinkle into what had been an encouraging comeback.
One small silver lining: the lat injury is independent of his shoulder surgery, meaning the team doesn’t have to worry (for now) about compounding problems with his prior repair. Still, it’s delicate. Rushing him back risks re-injury; letting him sit too long might cost Milwaukee a usable arm in a tight postseason. The balance is thin.
“It’s literally a day-by-day thing,” Woodruff said. “As far as the rest of the way, I’m not really counting anything out. I just got to come in and go day-to-day and see where we’re at.”
Woodruff is a free agent relatively soon, so his health and performance in 2025 carry even more weight. With his injury history, teams will scrutinize his durability. Missing the NLDS–even part of it–might affect his leverage in contract negotiations or market perception.
“I’m kind of keeping everything on the table at this point,” Woodruff said. “It’s essentially, from what I’ve been told, like a hamstring strain. You get to 99%, you feel great. It’s that last 1% that can really affect you, so you really just have to make sure it’s 100%.”
If he can recover and pitch effectively in later playoff rounds, it helps his case. But another setback or lingering effects from this injury could raise red flags among suitors. For a pitcher entering the free agent market, postseason availability and reliability are major selling points.
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