Brandon Woodruff Wants to Be 'In The Fight,' But His 6.00 Rehab ERA Tells a Different Story

Buckle up, Emerald City! What's going down in the NL Central tonight is wild. We've got the Milwaukee Brewers rolling into Cincinnati to face the Reds, and while the Brewers are sitting pretty with a five-game lead over the Cardinals and a massive 9 1/2-game cushion on the last-place Reds, the real story is on the mound. Brandon Woodruff, their two-time All-Star right-hander, is making his long-awaited return from the injured list! This is big, but there's a twist you absolutely have to see.

Woodruff's Rough Road Back: A Test of Grit

So, here's the deal with Woodruff. He hasn't pitched since April 30, when he got pulled after just 1 1/3 innings against the Diamondbacks with right shoulder inflammation. Ouch. After missing *all* of 2024 due to shoulder surgery and only making 12 starts last year, this guy has been through the wringer. You'd think his rehab starts would be smooth sailing, right? Nope. This dude posted a 6.00 ERA across his two minor league appearances, both in the Arizona Complex League and High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. A 6.00 ERA! Not exactly inspiring confidence.

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

But get this, Woodruff, 33, isn't backing down. He's fired up, saying straight up, "I'm sick and tired of watching... I want to be in the fight with them. I'm excited and I'm ready to do this." That's the passion we love to see, right? He even admitted that after a chat with manager Pat Murphy, he needed the full buildup to give himself the "best chance" in the big leagues. And hey, he's got a decent track record against the Reds, with a 7-4 record and a 3.48 ERA in 15 career appearances against them. Let's hope that history holds true, because after those rehab numbers? Tonight's a total wildcard.

Singer's June Turnaround: A Glimmer of Hope for the Reds?

Now, on the other side of the diamond, we've got the Reds' Brady Singer, and this guy's got his own battle. Cincinnati's team ERA is a rough 4.58, ranking 13th in the National League, but they just swept two series against the Mets and Yankees, even holding the Yanks to just three runs in their last two road wins. Pretty wild, given their struggles.

Singer's personal journey has been a rollercoaster. May was an absolute nightmare, 0-4 with a brutal 7.77 ERA. Yikes. But June? It's been a whole different ballgame. He's only allowed four earned runs total across three outings this month! He just bagged his first win since April 25, throwing five innings of one-run, three-hit ball, striking out five, and walking three in a 5-3 win over the Mets. "I felt my command was good," Singer said after that game. He also mentioned, "Giving up the free bags kind of affected the pitch count a little bit, but I'm happy with the result. I wish I could have gone deeper in the game, but I'm happy with it." He's looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since last August. Talk about a redemption arc trying to happen.

What's Next: A Series Opener Full of Questions

So, what's tonight's series opener gonna give us? We've got a veteran ace coming back from injury with some seriously shaky rehab numbers against a young pitcher trying to prove his recent success isn't a fluke. The Brewers are looking to bolster that divisional cushion, and the Reds are trying to build on some unexpected wins. This three-game set kicks off tonight, and with these two pitchers on the mound, you know it's going to be appointment viewing. Can Woodruff shake off the rust, or will Singer continue his June revival? You won't want to miss it!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.