Joe Orrico warned that Brandon Woodruff is unlikely to help fantasy rosters in 2024. Woodruff has essentially been sidelined for two seasons and has already experienced multiple rehab setbacks this spring. Orrico noted the Brewers have pushed his timetable back again and that the right-hander has dealt with lingering shoulder issues throughout the process. Given the extended layoff, Orrico expects strict workload restrictions and possibly only a cameo appearance once Woodruff is finally activated. He recommended prioritizing healthy options like rookie Logan Henderson over Woodruff in all redraft leagues, even if that means cutting the veteran outright.

Joe Pisapia called "shenanigans" on the Brewers’ explanation that Brandon Woodruff’s additional rehab start is strictly due to ankle tendinitis. Pisapia is worried because Woodruff’s fastball sat just 90–91 mph in his last rehab appearance—well below his typical 95 mph—and he suspects a potential dead-arm period or lingering shoulder trouble. While acknowledging that an ankle issue could sap push-off power, Pisapia advised fantasy managers to keep Woodruff on the bench until the velocity returns, warning that investing heavily in injured pitchers always carries hidden risk.

Woodruff will return later this week after a 39-pitch tune-up, and Welsh expects the Brewers to cap him around 70-75 pitches in the debut (likely Friday vs. Minnesota). He advised scooping Woodruff everywhere but sitting him if you’re guarding ratios, unless the matchup shifts to a bottom-tier offense like Pittsburgh. With Aaron Ashby, D.L. Hall and two upper-minors prospects also vying for rotation spots, Welsh stressed that Milwaukee badly needs Woodruff behind Freddy Peralta, so his workload should climb quickly after the first abbreviated turn.

Kirby is holding Brandon Woodruff everywhere she drafted him, yet refuses to start him until his velocity returns. Reports from his latest rehab outing peg the four-seam at 92 mph—down roughly 3 mph from his 2022 average (95.2). Because 60% of Woodruff’s arsenal is four-seam/sinker, that drop is worrisome. Kirby likened the situation to a pitcher’s personal spring training and hopes velo ticks up in the next rehab turn, but warned that shoulder-related velocity dips often linger. Her plan: stash on IL or bench, monitor radar-gun readings, and activate only after seeing at least 94 mph in back-to-back starts. She still believes Woodruff can be a fantasy difference-maker if the velocity returns.

Chris Welsh emphatically supported stashing Brandon Woodruff on the IL, given the ongoing rotation turmoil with the Brewers and their league-worst 6.68 ERA as a pitching staff. Woodruff is ramping up again and, according to Welsh, represents tremendous upside once activated. Fantasy managers with available IL slots should roster Woodruff immediately in anticipation of him returning and stabilizing Milwaukee's struggling pitching staff.