Throwing 85 mph, Brandon Woodruff leaves start in second inning

Brandon Woodruff departed his start in the second inning April 30 after showing significantly diminished velocity.

The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander came out of the gates throwing 84 to 85 mph with his four-seam fastball against the Arizona Diamondbacks, seven ticks below his season average.

By the time he gave up a single to the sixth batter he saw, a flare by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with one out in the second inning, the trio of manager Pat Murphy, pitching coach Chris Hook and trainer Brad Epstein went to the mound. The visit didn't last long and Woodruff handed the ball off and walked off the mound.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 30: Brandon Woodruff #53 of the Milwaukee Brewers leaves the game in the second inning with an injury against the Arizona Diamondbacks at American Family Field on April 30, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

“He wasn't himself," Murphy said in a mid-game interview with Brewers TV. "He felt kind of dead. He said he didn't feel any pain, just nothing was coming out. We've seen a little bit of this, but never at this level, where he can't get the ball over 85 mph. He's so important to us. We're not going to risk anything, maybe long-term by having him try to step on it.

"He's going through this process and hopefully [will] be okay and he'll work himself into his form. Because even with him maybe not throwing his normal 95 he can still get outs and win. As long as he doesn't risk injury I’ll go with him every time.”