Woodruff's injury not changing Brewers manager's mind on Misiorowski's playoff role

For the second consecutive season in which Brandon Woodruff had been a key member of a Milwaukee Brewers division championship team bound for the playoffs, an injury is again threatening to keep him out of the postseason.

In 2023, a capsular shoulder sprain sidelined Woodruff for the Brewers’ Wild Card Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He spent the entire 2024 season rehabbing from surgery and successfully worked his way back in 2025. Woodt was lined up to start game two of the Brewers' upcoming postseason series, but that plan is now in doubt after a lat strain emerged during a bullpen session between starts.

While Woodruff hasn’t officially been ruled out for the 2025 National League Division Series, which begins on October 4, neither he nor the team sounded particularly optimistic about his availability. Though he would be eligible to return from the injured list in time thanks to his retroactive placement on the IL, the early expectation is that the Brewers will need to adjust their postseason pitching plans in his absence.

With Quinn Priester now expected to follow Freddy Peralta, who Pat Murphy will send out to start game three, or a potential game four, if needed, is still very much up in the air. Veteran José Quintana, currently on the IL with a calf strain suffered on September 15, remains a candidate if healthy. The Brewers could also turn to Tobias Myers, who delivered under pressure in a must-win game against the New York Mets in last year's postseason, or consider rookie Chad Patrick, who has been exceptional for them this season.

One name notably absent from the conversation is rookie Jacob Misiorowski. While he’s currently part of the starting rotation, the organization has been clear that he’s not yet in a position to start a postseason game, and Woodruff’s injury hasn’t changed that stance.

Despite Brandon Woodruff's injury, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy not budging on Jacob Misiorowski's playoff role

Despite the uncertainty created by Woodruff’s injury, Brewers manager Pat Murphy isn’t wavering when it comes to Jacob Misiorowski’s postseason role. The hard-throwing rookie may be in the rotation now, but Murphy made it clear that the team doesn't view him as a playoff starter, at least not yet, as reported by MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.

In his brief major league career, Misiorowski has flashed elite potential with a blazing fastball and impressive strikeout ability. However, inconsistent command has been a recurring issue, often resulting in frequent baserunners and inefficient outings, which gives opponents more opportunities to capitalize and score.

This has led the organization to take a more cautious approach. While he’s expected to be on the postseason roster, his role will likely be out of the bullpen, where his stuff could play well in shorter outings.

With the stakes high and the margin for error slim in October, the Brewers are wisely prioritizing players who consistently give them a chance to win as members of their playoff rotation. By leaning on reliability, Milwaukee is positioning themselves, as best they can, to make the most of each game in what they hope will be a deep postseason run.