Starting pitchers for Brewers, Rays make long-awaited returns

Veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who missed the playoffs due to an injury, will make his season debut Tuesday for the Milwaukee Brewers against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays and left-hander Shane McClanahan, who is making his first big league start in more than two years following injuries.

The Rays rallied to win the series opener 3-2 on Monday on Nick Fortes' RBI double in the ninth inning off Trevor Megill. The clutch hit followed a two-out walk to Jonny DeLuca.

DeLuca had tied the score at 2-all with a leadoff homer in the seventh off Aaron Ashby. The Brewers bullpen allowed just one run in 14 2/3 innings in the opening three-game sweep of the White Sox.

Woodruff, who missed all of 2024 following shoulder surgery, went 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 12 starts last season after returning in July. He sustained a season-ending right lat strain in late September.

Woodruff had 83 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings last season while walking only 14. He is 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA in three career starts against Tampa Bay.

"I feel good. I'm in a good spot," Woodruff said near the end of spring training. "I feel like it was a good time for me to come into the season fresh and try to get a full year."

Brewers pitchers recorded 14 strikeouts Monday, giving them 10 or more strikeouts in each of the first four games for the second time in franchise history, matching 2019.

McClanahan was 33-16 in his first three seasons before an injury in August 2023 that eventually required Tommy John surgery also sidelined him the following season. He then missed all of 2025 with what the team called a "freak" nerve issue in his left triceps that required more surgery.

McClanahan was impressive in spring training, going 3-0 with 2.08 ERA in four starts, with 15 strikeouts and five walks in 13 innings.

"There's going to definitely be some sort of relief, and a feeling of this is where I belong," McClanahan said following his final spring training outing about the possible emotions of taking the mound in Milwaukee.

"I'm going to let those emotions come out however they come out," he said. "I don't want to force anything or tell you how I'm going to feel, but we'll see. Just a lot of excitement."

McClanahan has faced the Brewers just once in his career, tossing seven scoreless innings without a decision in a 1-0 win by the Rays in May 2023.

Tampa Bay designated hitter Yandy Diaz was 2-for-4 on Monday, including his first homer of the season to open the first inning. It was his 22nd career leadoff home run.

Diaz has 11 hits in his first 20 at-bats with six RBIs, becoming the first player in Rays history to have 10 or more hits through the team's first four games.

"He's so good. He's such a good hitter," Rays manager Kevin Cash said following the Monday game. "Two hits, just missed a homer to right. He's seeing the ball well right now and doing what he's done for six, seven, eight years."

--Field Level Media