Brewers' potential Game 4 pitching plan could pave way for highly anticipated Brandon Woodruff return

The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to Tropicana Field with a commanding 2-0 lead in their World Series matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s a familiar position for Milwaukee this postseason, as the Brewers have remained undefeated at American Family Field, meaning each time they have hit the road in a series they've held 2-0 series leads.

Another notable parallel is that Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson have pitched exclusively at home this postseason, while Robert Gasser, who is slated to start Game 3 at Tropicana Field on Monday night, has made all of his starts on the road. Gasser, whose late-season surge has fed into the postseason, started Game 4 of the NLDS, but was moved up to Game 3 in the NLCS after his strong showing against the San Diego Padres. Pat Murphy opted for Dustin May in Game 3 of the NLDS and turned to Shane Drohan to kick off a bullpen game in Game 4 of the NLCS.

With Gasser going tonight, it's likely the Brewers will once again use something of a "bullpen game" for Game 4 of the World Series tomorrow night. Milwaukee has yet to announce who will start Game 4, but with the plan of a bullpen game in place, there's one arm who should absolutely get the ball first for the Brewers: Brandon Woodruff.

Brandon Woodruff should be Brewers' leading candidate to start Game 4 of World Series

After last appearing in an MLB game on July 4, Woodruff has defied the odds by working his way back from a capsular strain in his throwing shoulder and earning a spot on the Brewers’ World Series roster. The next step for Woodruff is to appear in a Fall Classic game, as he has made it clear that he doesn’t want his roster spot to be a gesture of good faith.

Depending on how Monday night’s game unfolds, Woodruff could be a strong option to take the mound Tuesday if the Brewers opt for a bullpen game. Whether Pat Murphy turns to him as an opener or allows him to empty the tank over multiple innings or deploys him in a traditional relief role, Woodruff has postseason experience in many different roles, and his unmatched competitiveness should have the Brewers confident in whatever role they end up giving him.

However, that role should absolutely come at the beginning of the game. Not only is starting where Woodruff is most comfortable, but the uncertainty about how the veteran right-hander will perform after four months on the IL makes an appearance at the beginning of a game far more likely than one in a high-leverage situation at the end. If Woodruff comes out strong and can give the Brewers three or four innings at the start of Game 4, great, and if it's clear he's laboring through his pitches, Milwaukee can turn to someone like Drohan or May in the second or third frame.

Additionally, while it's not the sole reason the Brewers would make the decision, having Woodruff, a franchise legend, on the bump for a World Series game could give the roster a jolt of energy that they may or may not need in Game 4. Woodruff embodies the Brewers' resilience and seeing him making his long-awaited return at the beginning of a World Series game would undoubtedly be energizing for the Brewers and their fanbase. Whether or not that reality comes to fruition remains to be seen, but there's certainly a justification for Murphy turning to his veteran right-hander for the Game 4 start.

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