Brandon Woodruff did a solid job for a banged up Milwaukee Brewers rotation last year. He made eight starts and posted a 4.81 ERA in 43 innings. Woodruff struck out 32 and walked 14. But did he really show enough to earn a rotation spot?
What do the numbers behind the numbers say?
They’re not great. The underlying metrics don’t love Woodruff. His 6.70 K/9 with the Brewers wasn’t as impressive as the 8.36 K/9 he managed in Triple-A. The 4.72 xFIP he posted indicated that his 4.81 actual ERA wasn’t a mirage.
Woodruff also struggled at home and against lefties.