With just 30 days until the Milwaukee Brewers begin their 2026 season, uncertainty surrounds Brandon Woodruff’s availability for Opening Day. The Brewers are set to face the Chicago White Sox at home on March 26, marking their first Opening Day in Milwaukee since 2021. Woodruff, the longest-tenured Brewer, had seemed likely to start on Opening Day again after accepting a qualifying offer last November, but recent comments suggest his readiness remains uncertain as he prioritizes health over an early-season return.
Potential Brewers Starting Options if Woodruff Isn’t Ready for Opening Day
Brandon Woodruff’s hesitation opens the door for other pitchers to take the Opening Day mound if he delays his season debut. Here are three candidates Milwaukee could consider as their 2026 Opening Day starter in his absence.
Quinn Priester as the Front-Runner for the Spot
The most straightforward replacement for Woodruff could be Quinn Priester, the 25-year-old who is widely regarded as Milwaukee’s second starter when Woodruff is healthy. Priester emerged strongly last season, making 29 appearances for the Brewers, 24 of which he started and often served as the bulk pitcher. His consistent performances helped Milwaukee rack up an impressive 19-game winning streak in games he pitched, capped by a solid 3.32 ERA for the year.
While Priester does not share Woodruff’s veteran experience, he is poised to carry much of the rotation’s workload for Milwaukee. Moving Priester into the Opening Day role would require shifting the entire starting rotation forward by one spot, a change that seems manageable given the squad’s depth. Despite his relative youth, Priester is the safest choice among the candidates to begin the season in Woodruff’s stead.
Jacob Misiorowski’s High Ceiling Could Earn Him the Role
Jacob Misiorowski represents an exciting, albeit riskier, candidate to start Opening Day. The 23-year-old rookie had a remarkable debut last year, earning an NL All-Star spot after only five starts and playing a crucial role in the Brewers’ postseason, including a key performance in the win over the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS. However, Misiorowski struggled later in the season and briefly lost his rotation spot, demonstrating both his high potential and inconsistency.
If Milwaukee is willing to entrust him with a prominent role early, Misiorowski could replicate his dominant debut innings against Chicago to open the season. His pitching arsenal and velocity give him an elite ceiling, but also leave his performances less predictable compared to Priester’s steadiness. An Opening Day start would show confidence in Misiorowski’s ability to deliver under pressure and might accelerate his development into the Brewers’ next ace.
Aaron Ashby’s Versatility Could Bring an Unconventional Approach
Aaron Ashby would be a surprising, but still viable, choice for Opening Day. Last season, Ashby frequently filled a multi-inning relief role and even started three playoff games, which sparked jokes among fans and teammates about him starting every contest. The Brewers have yet to finalize his role for 2026, but there is potential they might transition him back to a traditional starting spot or use him as an opener.
Using Ashby as an opener against the White Sox has strategic merit. Chicago’s lineup features several left-handed hitters near the top, including Kyle Teel, Colson Montgomery, and Munetaka Murakami, making Ashby’s left-handed pitching advantageous for early matchups. Additionally, the Brewers’ schedule in the opening weeks offers several off days, enabling flexible pitching management without overly taxing the staff.
Implications of Woodruff’s Availability on the Brewers’ Season Start
While Brewers fans hope to see Brandon Woodruff take the mound on Opening Day as their veteran ace, his cautious approach toward returning reflects a priority on long-term health over immediate performance. His decision impacts not only the rotation’s Opening Day makeup but the overall pitching staff’s strategy for the first month of the season.
If Woodruff delays his start, the Brewers have capable alternatives in Quinn Priester, who offers reliable consistency; Jacob Misiorowski, whose potential could ignite the rotation; and Aaron Ashby, who provides flexibility and left-handed matchup advantages. Each option carries different risks and benefits, but the common thread is that Milwaukee’s depth allows them to absorb Woodruff’s absence early on while aiming to maintain competitiveness.
Ultimately, the choice of Opening Day starter will reveal how aggressively the Brewers intend to push their young pitching talents and manage their veteran’s recovery. The early-season rotation decisions will provide valuable insight into Milwaukee’s approach as they seek to contend in the 2026 MLB season and protect their pitching staff’s endurance for a long campaign ahead.
