Brandon Woodruff's rehab start a bright spot as Brewers sustain Aaron Civale's setback

The Milwaukee Brewers' 2025 season has been anything but smooth sailing; however, their current 8–6 record paints the picture of a team refusing to fold under pressure. Despite being stitched together by a patchwork rotation, Milwaukee has managed to stay afloat in the NL Central.

Still, the Brewers know they’re running on borrowed time, and the wait for reinforcements has become one of their most pressing storylines.

There was a reason for excitement this week when the Brewers announced that veteran lefty José Quintana was finally ready to make his Brewers debut. The good news didn’t stop there.

Milwaukee Brewers hit with mixed news about their rotation: Woodruff’s return nears as Civale suffers setback

 On April 12, Milwaukee announced that Brandon Woodruff is officially beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville. For Brewers fans, that update brought a collective sigh of relief. Woodruff has long been viewed as a co-ace and frontline starter alongside Freddy Peralta. His return from shoulder surgery would bring balance and firepower back to the rotation.

Unfortunately, not all the updates were cause for celebration. Aaron Civale, who opened the season in the Brewers' rotation but landed on the injured list shortly after his first start due to a left hamstring strain, has reportedly suffered a setback. Per MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, Civale is now heading in for further evaluation, delaying his return timetable. While the full extent of the issue remains unclear, the development raises concerns given that Milwaukee is still without five of its projected starters.

With Civale sidelined again, the Brewers have had to get creative. The front office made a low-key but timely move by acquiring Quinn Priester from the Red Sox — a depth arm who now finds himself playing an interesting role in Milwaukee. 

Even more surprising has been the emergence of Chad Patrick, who has taken the mound with a steady hand after beginning the season expecting to start in the minors. Thrust into action, Patrick has provided more than just innings — he’s brought some sense of stability to a rotation in flux.

The Brewers aren’t in panic mode — far from it. With a winning record despite all the instability, there’s a sense of quiet confidence that this group can weather the storm. More importantly, they’re showing patience — resisting the urge to rush Civale back before he’s fully ready.

While the injury bug continues to test the Brewers’ depth, the gradual return of key arms like Quintana and Woodruff offers hope that Milwaukee’s full rotation could soon take shape. And if the club can continue treading water until then, they’ll be all the more dangerous when fully healthy.