Projecting Brewers' post-trade deadline rotation after Brandon Woodruff's season-ending injury

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff recently confirmed the news many had anticipated: he will undergo season-ending surgery and miss the remainder of the 2026 campaign. The procedure will be similar to the one he underwent back in 2023, and though Woodruff hopes to return following another lengthy rehab process, it likely won't be until the 2028 season.

As devastating as Woodruff's announcement is, it does provide the Brewers with clarity ahead of the August 3 trade deadline. Rather than holding out hope for a potential Woodruff return in the postseason, Milwaukee can now fully assess their rotation needs and plan accordingly.

While the All-Star Break additions of Lance McCullers Jr. and Colton Gordon improve the club's pitching depth, neither currently projects as a clear No. 3 starter for a postseason series, barring a sudden McCullers resurgence in which he rediscovers his pre-injury effectiveness. With that in mind, another move to strengthen the rotation could still be on the horizon. Though the Brewers pitching staff is starting to look rather crowded, especially with DL Hall's return from the IL looming, Milwaukee's post-trade deadline rotation should include another external addition, one who the team can comfortably throw in Game 3 of a postseason series.

With Brandon Woodruff out for the rest of the season, Brewers should be on the lookout for a clear No. 3 starter at the deadline

Out of the All-Star break, the Brewers are rolling with a starting rotation of (in order) Logan Henderson, Shane Drohan, Robert Gasser, Brandon Sproat, and Jacob Misiorowski. Kyle Harrison, who is currently on the injured list, is eligible to return as soon as July 24. Scans have all come back clean so far, and by all accounts, he appears on track to return to the rotation in the near future, but it's entirely possible that his return is delayed until after the trade deadline. Regardless, the 2026 breakout southpaw is clearly in the team's post-trade deadline plans and currently slots in as their No. 2 starter.

Meanwhile, McCullers Jr. will begin his Brewers tenure in the bullpen, and Gordon in Triple-A. McCullers will have a chance to ease into his new digs after spending his entire career in Houston, but presumably, the Brewers will eventually try him in their rotation. His postseason experience is coveted, so if he can rediscover his former effectiveness, Milwaukee will absolutely give him a shot to prove that he should cover meaningful innings come October.

However, betting on McCullers to be a clear-cut No. 3 starter is something the Brewers should steer clear of. His effectiveness, if it returns, should be considered a bonus for the Brewers rather than an expectation. Therefore, his addition to the roster should not prevent Milwaukee from adding another playoff-caliber starting pitcher should the opportunity present itself. Here's what Milwaukee's late-season rotation could look like with a top-tier addition from the Baltimore Orioles' rotation should the AL East club's current winning streak prove to be a fluke.

Projected Brewers starting rotation after the trade deadline:

1. RHP Jacob Misiorowski
2. LHP Kyle Harrison
3. LHP Trevor Rogers (from BAL)
4. RHP Logan Henderson
5. RHP Lance McCullers Jr.

28-year-old Trevor Rogers is a pending free agent making just $6 million in 2026 on an underperforming team that will more than likely sell at the trade deadline. His slow start to the year has interest in his post-trade deadline services much lower than it should be given his talent and recent performance. In other words, he's a perfect trade target for the Brewers, and one that could realistically slot in as the team's No. 3 starter in the postseason.

Logan Henderson, meanwhile, owns an eye-catching 2.97 ERA and could easily compete for the No. 3 starter role as well. Aside from his 2026 season debut, he has pitched at least five innings in every outing, providing the type of consistency that makes him the Brewers' best internal option behind Miz and Harrison.

Where things get interesting is the No. 5 spot in the rotation, which theoretically won't be used in the postseason. Rookie southpaw Shane Drohan is quietly putting together a strong season. Over 20 appearances, 10 of which have been starts, he's covered 76.0 innings and owns a 3.20 ERA. However, Drohan's services may be needed in the bullpen, considering Aaron Ashby is the only southpaw in Milwaukee's current relief corps.

The duo of Robert Gasser and Brandon Sproat is where difficult decisions lie should the Brewers make another external addition at the deadline and see a resurgence from McCullers, both of which are big "ifs." While both Gasser and Sproat have been much stronger as of late, and the Brewers want them each to gain experience as starting pitchers in the big leagues, a switch to the bullpen for the stretch run of the 2026 season could be in the cards if Milwaukee wants to give themselves their best chance to win a World Series. With two or all of Gasser, Sproat, and Drohan in relief, the Brewers would have plenty of versatility in their bullpen which would allow them to give plenty of rest, in the form of short outings, to both Miz and Harrison, keeping them fresh for the postseason.

The Brewers have set themselves up to be strategic in how they use their pitching staff for the stretch run, and how they choose to approach the upcoming trade deadline will add to that strategy. Now with the necessary pitching depth after their three-player swap with the Astros, the Brewers can focus their attention on an impact addition like Rogers for their rotation.

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