Brandon Woodruff was scheduled to start for the Milwaukee Brewers on April 7 at Fenway Park in the brewers vs red sox matchup, with Milwaukee 7-2 and Boston 2-7 entering the game (confirmed).
Brandon Woodruff's Start at Fenway
Woodruff was listed as Milwaukee’s starter after returning from a two-year rehab following shoulder surgery; he entered the start with a 1-0 record and a 3.60 ERA and had last pitched on Tuesday in a 6-2 win over the Rays when he allowed two runs on four hits and struck out six in five innings (confirmed). Woodruff finished the previous season 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 12 starts after his rehab return, and he had made one career start against Boston on July 29, 2022, when he struck out nine and allowed one run in 6⅓ innings (confirmed). Brandon Woodruff said, "My one and only goal this year is being healthy and being available," (confirmed).
Brayan Bello and the Red Sox
Brayan Bello was scheduled to start for the Boston Red Sox on April 7, entering with a 0-1 record and a 9.64 ERA (confirmed). Bello allowed six runs, five earned, in his season debut the previous week against the Astros (confirmed). Boston opened its home campaign by dropping two of three to the Padres and arrived at Fenway 2-7 overall (confirmed). Wilyer Abreu and Masataka Yoshida each had three hits in Boston’s Sunday loss to San Diego, and Wilyer Abreu entered the game with a.429 batting average and eight extra-base hits, tied for the MLB lead with Christian Walker (confirmed). The team’s recent offensive output was described as disappointing with Abreu noted as a bright spot (confirmed).
Milwaukee's Lineup and Injuries
Milwaukee entered the game 7-2 after winning its first three series of the season and leading MLB in steals with 20 (confirmed). Sal Frelick did not play in the Brewers’ Sunday lineup because of tightness on his left side; Brewers manager Pat Murphy said, "He could have played," and added, "Think he’ll be better [Monday]." (confirmed). Murphy also said of the Brewers’ offense, "It’s relentless," and, "These guys know that two outs means you’re two-thirds done with the inning, and that’s it." (confirmed). Milwaukee had not yet played a National League opponent this season and carried momentum from an 8-5 victory over the Royals on April 6 that moved the club to 7-2 (confirmed).
Brandon Woodruff’s scheduled start at Fenway matched a Brewers rotation arm with a veteran performance profile against a Red Sox starter whose early-season numbers showed strain; Bello’s 0-1 mark and 9.64 ERA contrasted with Woodruff’s 1-0 and 3.60 ERA entering the game (confirmed). Boston’s offense leaned on Wilyer Abreu’s hot start, while Milwaukee’s depth from series wins and league-leading steals framed the matchup’s practical stakes for both teams: Milwaukee aiming to extend its series streak and Boston seeking an offensive correction at home (confirmed).
Fans following roster availability should note Pat Murphy’s Monday update on Sal Frelick—"Think he’ll be better [Monday]."—as the immediate actionable development for Milwaukee (confirmed). The April 7 start at Fenway Park paired Woodruff against Bello and set the immediate test: Woodruff’s continued post-rehab availability and Bello’s ability to stabilize early-season results, with Wilyer Abreu’s bat a specific storyline for Boston at home (confirmed).
