Brewers Battle Reds as Brandon Woodruff Returns to the Mound

The Milwaukee Brewers bounced back from a tough series against the Braves, securing a 9-4 victory on Sunday to avoid a sweep. As their six-day road trip continues, the Brewers are set to face the Cincinnati Reds for the first time this season. A highlight of tonight’s matchup is the return of franchise icon Brandon Woodruff, who is making his first start since exiting a game on April 30 due to a concerning drop in fastball velocity.

To accommodate Woodruff’s return, lefty Drew Rom has been optioned back to Nashville. This decision raises some eyebrows, especially considering the current bullpen dynamics. Manager Craig Yoho is likely looking to maximize his options, but with Shane Drohan and Robert Gasser both in the rotation, Aaron Ashby stands as the sole left-handed reliever available.

Woodruff appears to have regained his form, showcasing his skills in two rehab starts where he consistently hit the low 90s on the radar gun, reminiscent of his early-season performance. In his last outing with High-A Wisconsin, Woodruff pitched 5 1/3 innings and threw 82 pitches, suggesting he could handle a full workload if all goes well. Before landing on the injured list, he posted a 3.60 ERA and a 3.97 FIP over 30 innings in six starts.

On the opposing side, the Reds will send right-hander Brady Singer to the mound. The 29-year-old has faced challenges in his second season with Cincinnati, recording a 5.32 ERA and a troubling 6.15 FIP over 14 starts and 66 innings. His struggles have been compounded by a propensity to give up home runs, allowing 17 in his 66 innings—more than double his previous career high. Additionally, Singer is striking out batters at a career-low rate of 7.1 per nine innings, contributing to his difficulties. However, he has shown signs of improvement lately, limiting opponents to two earned runs or fewer in his last three outings.

In a lineup change, Cooper Pratt will not play after taking a ball off his shin during yesterday’s game in Atlanta. The Brewers are opting for Joey Ortiz at shortstop and David Hamilton at third base, with Brice Turang and Jake Bauers handling first and second base, respectively. The outfield features Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, and Sal Frelick, while William Contreras, who notched four hits yesterday, and Christian Yelich complete the batting order.

Fans can catch the action starting at 6:10 p.m. on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.