Brewers to add key arm back to rotation for series finale against Cardinals

The disheartening placement of Brandon Woodruff back on the injured list with shoulder inflammation came at a time when the Milwaukee Brewers could ill-afford to lose a starting pitcher. Thanks, in part, to a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals that the Brew Crew swept yesterday, Milwaukee was scheduled to play 27 games in 27 days leading up to the midseason All-Star Break. The taxing nature of such a stretch on a major league pitching staff was complicated by Woodruff's injury on Independence Day, which will now force Pat Murphy and company to get creative over the next five days.

Thankfully, Murphy's job is made easier by the anticipated return of right-hander Logan Henderson. Earlier today, the Brewers officially announced that Henderson, who has spent the last six weeks on the injured list with a lower back strain, will re-join the big-league rotation for Thursday night's series finale in St. Louis.

Henderson was off to an excellent start in 2026 before landing on the IL. The 24-year-old right-hander who maintains his rookie status despite debuting last season, posted a 2.74 ERA in five starts with 30 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched.

During his rehab process, Henderson made two starts for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds and covered a combined 6.1 innings while allowing just two earned runs and striking out 11 opposing hitters. He tossed 68 pitches in his final rehab start, so an outing in the 80-90 pitch range is certainly in play tomorrow night, though the Brewers' bullpen is in a far better spot than the team was expecting after both Jacob Misiorowski and Robert Gasser went seven innings or more during their starts in yesterday's doubleheader.

More than anything, Henderson's return offers clarity in regard to the Brewers' pitching plans for the rest of the first half of the season. Milwaukee shouldn't have to turn to any of their usual starters on abnormal rest leading up to the break.

Brewers' pitching schedule leading up to the break gains clarity with Logan Henderson's return from the IL

Southpaw, and All-Star snub, Kyle Harrison is scheduled to take the ball for the Brew Crew in tonight's contest in St. Louis before Henderson gets the series finale tomorrow night. Then, despite playing a night game in St. Louis on Thursday night, the Brewers will travel to Pittsburgh without an off-day to take on the Pirates in a three-game weekend series before the break.

As things currently line up, the Brewers will likely turn to Brandon Sproat in the series opener at PNC Park on Friday night, which would give the rookie right-hander four days of rest (normal rest) since his last start. Rookie southpaw Shane Drohan would then take the bump in the second game of the series on Saturday afternoon, which would be four days after his start in Monday's series opener in St. Louis.

Assuming that schedule is maintained and neither of the first two games against the Pirates are rained out, which is never a guarantee in Pittsburgh, Misiorowski would take the mound in the first half finale on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Pirates have 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes scheduled to pitch on Sunday afternoon as well, setting up a second Miz-Skenes showdown.

The two All-Star pitchers matched up in Misiorowski's third-ever major league start last year. The Brewers flame-thrower out-dueled Skenes and took home the victory after throwing five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. Should Miz and Skenes once again meet on Sunday afternoon, it will make for a must-watch matinee right before All-Star Break.

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