The Brewers have a Cy Young winner on the pitching staff. However, it’s been the steady Brandon Woodruff who has been the best pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers in the second half of the season. I would also argue he is the best big-game pitcher on the staff, too.
Woodruff added another notch on his big-game resume on Wednesday night. Big Woo went six innings, allowed five hits, not surrendering a run and striking out 10. His 10 strikeouts is now four straight 10+ strikeout games, a Brewers franchise record. Woodruff picked up the win, improving to 13-4 with a 3.05 ERA. The win pulled the Brewers within just 1/2 game of the Phillies for the final Wild Card berth.
With the Brewers’ inconsistent play in the second half, Woodruff has been the constant. He has delivered a solid start nearly every turn in the rotation. In fact, since May 9, Brandon Woodruff has allowed more than 3 earned runs in just one start.
In Woodruff’s previous start Wednesday, a 5-1 win over the Reds, Woodruff once again was dominant. The 6-foot-4-inch right-hander tossed six sparkling innings, allowing just three hits, two walks, one run and struck out 11 batters. As we will see it’s just customary in pivotal games for the Brewers that Woodruff delivers.
Brandon Woodruff strikes out 11 in 6 strong innings vs Cincinnati. He now has 10 plus strike outs in 3 straight starts. He gives up just 1 run on 3 hits & records his 12 win in a 5-1 victory over the Reds.
— Jim Ellis (@jimellismsu) September 23, 2022
Woodruff keeping Brewers in postseason hunt
Woodruff went on the IL after his final start of May. The stats weren’t very good. He had a 5-3 record with a 4.74 ERA. But since returning off the IL Woodruff has been his old self.
Woodruff has won 8 of his last 9 decisions and is now 13-4 with an ERA hovering around 3. He has struck out 183 batters in 147.1 innings with a 1.08 WHIP. He has had a sub-3 ERA in every month since May, including a 2.10 ERA in July. Despite the Brewers being a middling team since the Trade Deadline, the Brewers are 10-3 in Woodruff’s last 13 starts. The Brewers are also 8-3 in Woodruff’s starts since the calendar flipped to August, despite the Brewers being just 26-27 since that time.
Brandon Woodruff needs to be extended.
I will die on this hill.
— 𝒴𝑒𝓁𝒾’𝓈 𝐵𝑜𝓃𝑔 (@yelichfans) September 23, 2022
It’s no surprise to Brewers fans that Woodruff is dealing.
We have seen Woodruff do this before. While he has never been a Cy Young winner, Woodruff is a two-time All-Star and was fifth in Cy Young voting himself last year. When he takes the mound, you feel good.
Just look at his history in the playoffs.
Woodruff’s postseason resume
In the first start of his career in the postseason, Woodruff retired all 9 hitters he faced in what was eventually a Game 1 win vs. Colorado in the NLDS for the Brewers.
He one-upped that act in the NLCS.
He hit a homer and picked up a win in Game 1 of the NLCS and hit perhaps the most memorable homer in Brewer history off of Clayton Kershaw. Woodruff went 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA in 9.1 innings in the NLCS.
Before we start the 2019 season, let's look back at some memorable moments from last year.
🔸 @Brewers P Brandon Woodruff takes Clayton Kershaw deep in the NLCS pic.twitter.com/dqnxyRxsWM
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 20, 2019
Despite being just 1-3 overall in the postseason Woodruff has continually given the Brewers a chance to win when he toes the rubber. He has a 3.18 career ERA in 28 postseason innings, he has struck out 40 batters while allowing only 20 hits and four walks. That’s a sparkling 0.85 WHIP.
Woodruff has proven himself in biggest games
So yes, the Brewers have a Cy Young pitcher on their staff in Corbin Burnes, however if you are asking me who I want to start the biggest games for the Brewers, it’s Brandon Woodruff. Woodruff is a model of consistency and rises to the occasion embracing the September moments.
He said it himself. When he is pitching, you feel good about the Brewers’ chances. They will need to continue winning when he takes the mound if the Brewers want to sneak into the playoffs.
Brandon Woodruff has pitched in tons of big games in his career. Far more often than not, he has delivered for the Brewers.
"I love this time of year," he said. "I love September baseball. I love games that really mean something."
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) September 18, 2022
