Woodruff's Strong Comeback Sparks Brewers' Promising Start

0:00On April 1st, Brandon Woodruff made a strong comeback in the Brewers season opener, earning the win in a 6-2 victory over the Rays at American, Family Field. The veteran right-hander went five solid innings on just 67 pitches, allowing two solo home runs but keeping Tampa Bay in check otherwise. It marked his first star in the 2026 season after a long road back from injuries. Earlier this week, Woodruff skipped a tune-up in AAA to jump straight into the majors, even though he was a bit behind on pitch-count build-up. Milwaukee trusted his word, he's their longest tenured player and the only starter with over two years of big league service time. He inked the highest single-season deal in franchise history, a $22.05 million qualifying offer to return. Manager Pat Murphy praised Woodruff's confidence after all he's endured from shoulder surgery in 2023. That sidelined him until mid-2025 to a lat strain that cut short his hot streak last year.

1:04Fans and teammates see him as crucial, especially with the rotation leaning on his experience. In the game, Woodruff touched 95.1 mph on the fastball and through 45 strikes exiting with a 3-2 lead. Bryce Tarang's big hit in the fifth flipped the score and the Brewers tacked on more runs later, including a Gary Sanchez homer and a couple of. Replay overturn calls that went their way. Milwaukee's pitching staff looks deeper now with Woodruff locked in, setting the tone for a promising start as he builds toward another dominant run. This has been MLB News Today, powered by AI.