Woodruff exits with apparent injury in third start off IL
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PHOENIX – Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff left Saturday’s game against the Diamondbacks in the bottom of the fourth inning after throwing 61 pitches. It wasn’t immediately clear what was bothering the 33-year-old veteran as he exited, but July 4 marked his third start since returning from surgery to address a cyst in his shoulder joint.
He had previously pulled back from a planned return on May 27, and ultimately returned on June 22.
Woodruff had not allowed a run in starts on June 22 and June 28, but left Saturday's start in Arizona having allowed three earned runs on two hits in 3 2/3 innings of work. He struck out six and issued one walk.
Woodruff’s velocity dropped significantly throughout Saturday’s game. His changeup fell from 82.9 mph in the first inning to 76.6 mph in the fourth, while his fastball dropped from 92.5 mph to 86.6.
“Woody's just a great story in it himself, just the way he conducts himself as a starter,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said before Saturday’s game. “He's been magnificent. Two starts back from the IL, and just, he's been magnificent.”