Notes: Woodruff's playoff history vs. Kershaw
This browser does not support the video element.
MILWAUKEE -- It’s Brandon Woodruff vs. Clayton Kershaw in the postseason. Only this time, Woodruff won’t get to swing the bat.
Woodruff, who famously homered off the longtime Dodgers ace during Game 1 of the 2018 National League Championship Series at Miller Park -- “I’d probably stand zero chance” to do it again, Woodruff said earlier this summer -- will square off with Kershaw again in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. In that ’18 NLCS game, Woodruff was pitching in relief, still getting his feet grounded in the Major Leagues. They met again in Game 5 at Dodger Stadium, when Woodruff again worked relief after Brewers “starter” Wade Miley faced one batter.
Now, Woodruff will start, potentially with the Brewers’ hopes resting on his shoulders.
That’s because injuries have decimated Milwaukee’s pitching staff, leaving starters Corbin Burnes (left oblique) and Brett Anderson (blister) off the roster for this round along with ace reliever Devin Williams. The Brewers had a bullpen day in Game 1 and will have a decision to make about how to navigate Game 3, should the best-of-three series get that far.
Shop for postseason gear: Whatever the scenario, the Brewers will need quality innings from Woodruff, the likes of the eight scoreless innings he threw at the Cardinals on Saturday to keep Milwaukee’s playoff hopes alive.
“I try to keep it simple,” Woodruff said. “I try to treat each day the same and come in and do the same routine, keep everything the exact same. I don’t try to look at -- obviously, I would like to finish every game that I start. … I don’t try to put any extra pressure on myself to look at the day before.”
That night in the NLCS, Woodruff said, is a blur. He remembers Brewers manager Craig Counsell telling him before the game to be ready for an early call in relief of starter Gio González. It came in the second inning, and Woodruff took over in the third, delivered a 1-2-3 inning, hit a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the inning, then struck out the side in the top of the fourth. The Brewers went on to win, 6-5, and Woodruff, whose family was there in the stands, calls it one of the best nights of his career.
Has he ever talked to Kershaw about that moment? They were both 2019 NL All-Stars, after all.
“I'm not gonna say anything, that's for sure,” Woodruff said with a laugh. “I mean, you're looking at a guy who's going to be a Hall of Famer, and he's probably not too worried about some guy who's fresh in the big leagues who hit a home run off home off of him.
“He's had an incredible career, and he's still at the top of his game. He's just a special pitcher, just kind of a once in a lifetime type of talent that you get to see.”
This browser does not support the video element.
Last call
• Anderson’s availability for this series “wasn’t close,” Counsell said. There was hope that the blister on the lefty's left index finger was superficial enough that it might heal with a couple of days off, but Anderson was still unable to throw as of Wednesday’s Game 1.
• Woodruff doesn’t have to swing the bat because the Brewers and Dodgers have the designated hitter at their disposal, and the Brewers were happy to have Daniel Vogelbach healthy enough to play. He hurt his right quadriceps on Sunday, but he was moving around better than expected in a Dodger Stadium workout on Tuesday night, Counsell said.
• Christian Yelich’s appearance as the Brewers’ leadoff hitter in Game 1 was a first for 2020, but it was not a first for Yelich. He batted first 19 times for the Brewers in 2018, and 167 times for the Marlins before that. Counsell said it was a move to spark Milwaukee’s offense.
• The Brewers have been in the postseason three straight years, but seven of the 12 pitchers on their Wild Card Series roster were poised for their playoff debut, including Game 1 starter Brent Suter.
“I told a couple of the guys already whatever’s happened in the regular season, none of that matters now,” said reliever Corey Knebel, who was great for the team in the ’18 NLCS. “I’m trying to do whatever I can to make sure the bullpen’s relaxed and ready to go. We’ve seen how we use the bullpen here in Milwaukee, and as you see, today’s going to be a bullpen day. We’re ready. Counsell’s confident in us. And so are we.”