Brandon Woodruff's 6.00 ERA Rehab Has the Brewers Holding Their Breath

Alright, Seattle, listen up, because while our Mariners are battling, there's some wild stuff happening across the league, and you know we gotta keep an eye on what's cooking. Get this: the Milwaukee Brewers are gearing up to face the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, kicking off their first series of the year. And the big news? Two-time All-Star pitcher Brandon Woodruff is finally coming off the injured list. Sounds great, right? Except his two minor league rehab starts? A brutal 6.00 ERA. Yeah, you read that right. Talk about high stakes for his return!

Woodruff's Rocky Road Back to the Mound

So, Woodruff, bless his heart, last pitched way back on April 30, lasting just 1 1/3 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks before getting yanked with right shoulder inflammation. Ouch. He's been sidelined ever since, and the dude is clearly champing at the bit. He even said, "I'm sick and tired of watching. That's been the hardest thing for me, because I want to be in the fight with them. I'm excited and I'm ready to do this." You gotta respect that fire. But man, that 6.00 ERA at both the Arizona Complex League and with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers is a massive red flag. The 33-year-old nine-year veteran admitted he had a chat with manager Pat Murphy, deciding to take the full buildup to give himself the "best chance" in the big leagues. This is a guy who missed all of 2024 after shoulder surgery and only made 12 starts last year. His career numbers against the Reds are solid, 7-4 with

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a 3.48 ERA in 15 appearances, but that rehab ERA? It's making everyone wonder if he's truly ready.

Brady Singer's Shot at Redemption After a Rough Start

Now, flip to the other dugout. Cincinnati's pitching staff has been a bit of a mess, with a 4.58 team ERA, ranking 13th in the National League. But hold on, Brady Singer, the Reds' scheduled starter for Monday, is trying to turn his whole season around. His first two months were, let's just say, "forgettable." May was a disaster, going 0-4 with a whopping 7.77 ERA. But something clicked in June. He's only allowed four earned runs across three outings this month! He just threw five innings of one-run, three-hit ball, striking out five and walking three in a 5-3 win over the Mets on Tuesday, earning his first W since April 25. He said his command felt good, even if the "free bags" messed with his pitch count. He's chasing consecutive wins for the first time since last August. Talk about a comeback narrative! So, as Monday's game rolls around, you've got the Brewers, who, despite dropping three of their last four, still hold a five-game lead over St. Louis and a whopping 9 ½-game edge on the last-place Reds. They're trying to bolster that lead, with a veteran returning from injury but with some seriously shaky rehab numbers. Then you've got the Reds, coming off series wins against the Mets and Yankees, with a pitcher who's suddenly found his groove. This isn't just another game, folks. It's a clash of early season narratives, and you know we'll be watching to see how this plays out for these teams' early forms!

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