Brewers: Latest Brandon Woodruff Injury Update Isn't Great News

It didn't take long for the injury bug to bite the Brewers this year. It started with Aaron Ashby before spring training even began, then Tyrone Taylor, then Adrian Houser, then Luis Urias on Opening Day, and now perhaps the most important player yet, Brandon Woodruff.

After his last start, Woodruff's shoulder wasn't recovering as normal, and he was placed on the IL as the medical staff figured out what the exact problem was, putting another dent in the rotation just as the Brewers were moving to a six man rotation because of the schedule.

Now, we have an update on Brandon Woodruff's injury and the news isn't exactly great.

Brandon Woodruff has a sub-scap strain and will be out for a longer period of time than originally thought.

In Craig Counsell's address to the media regarding Woodruff, he announced a sub-scapular strain was the issue and that he's been shut down from throwing for the rest of the road trip. Once the Brewers return home, they will have their team doctors fully examine Woodruff's injury and determine a timeline going forward.

While this is a muscle strain which usually isn't too serious, the location of the injury makes things tricky, as the trainers told Counsell. Recovery is going to be a lot longer than the originally anticipated minimum stay on the IL. Being shut down from throwing, he'll have to ramp back up and that takes some time.

In 2021, Yankees pitcher Corey Kluber had a sub-scap strain as well, and he was shut down from throwing for four weeks. While the Brewers haven't said that will be the timeline for Woodruff, based on previous pitchers dealing with a similar injury, Milwaukee may be without their co-ace for an extended period of time.

The injury to Woodruff puts more pressure on a Brewers rotation that seemed to have plenty of depth heading into the year, but has seen it dwindle quite rapidly with Aaron Ashby possibly out for the entire season, Jason Alexander is also on the 60 day IL, Adrian Houser's injury, and now Woodruff.

The good news for the Brewers is that they'll be expecting Houser back fairly soon. He's already been sent on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Nashville and he will be back with the Brewers after a few more outings and could slot into the rotation if need be with Woodruff likely still on the shelf.