Brandon Woodruff leaves start early again with apparent injury

July 5, 2026 - 08:18

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff left his start against the Arizona Diamondbacks early on Wednesday night, marking the second consecutive outing where an apparent injury cut his appearance short. The right-hander was pulled during the fourth inning after his fastball velocity noticeably dipped, raising immediate questions about his health.

Woodruff, who had been building back up after a shoulder issue earlier this season, appeared to be cruising through the first three frames. But in the fourth, his fastball sat several miles per hour below his usual range. The Brewers training staff and manager Pat Murphy came to the mound for a brief discussion before deciding to remove him from the game. Woodruff walked off the field under his own power but did not look comfortable.

The team has not yet released an official diagnosis, but the velocity drop is a red flag for any pitcher, especially one with Woodruff's history of shoulder troubles. He missed significant time last season and had been carefully managed by the Brewers this year. This latest early exit will likely lead to further evaluation, including imaging, before the team decides on his next steps. For a Milwaukee club fighting for playoff positioning, losing Woodruff for any extended period would be a serious blow to their rotation depth.