Brandon Woodruff Enters Brewers World Series Roster After Injury

The Milwaukee Brewers officially announced their 26-man roster for the World Series on Friday, featuring a surprise return for right-handed pitcher Brandon Woodruff. The two-time All-Star enters the active lineup ahead of Game 1 at American Family Field without having pitched in a Major League Baseball game for more than three months.

Woodruff takes the roster spot of Chad Patrick as part of Milwaukee's 13-man pitching staff. The move marks a remarkable comeback for the 33-year-old veteran, who faced the prospect of a season-ending shoulder surgery during the summer. Instead, further evaluations revealed that an operation was ultimately unnecessary, opening the door for him to potentially pitch in the Fall Classic for the first time in his career.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday about his inclusion in the prospective roster, Woodruff expressed confidence in his readiness. "Significantly, this is why I play," Woodruff said. "The playoffs are my thing, so to speak. I love this time of year. I love pitching in the big moments. I simply feel that I am ready for this."

The decision to active Woodruff carries notable risks for the organization. The right-hander landed on the injured list in early May following a drop in velocity and a brief return in June was cut short after another velocity dip during a July 4 start in Arizona. He has not appeared in a major league game since. Following 23 pitches in a live batting practice session on Tuesday, Woodruff stated that he felt physically sound.

Under Major League Baseball regulations, teams can request permission from the commissioner to replace an active roster player for the remainder of a series due to an acute, non-chronic injury. However, because Woodruff's previous shoulder issues are documented, the Brewers would not be able to substitute another player if he suffers a recurrence of the injury during the series. Matt Arnold, the president of baseball operations for the Brewers, acknowledged both the high reward and the strict rule constraints on Thursday.

"He is one of the most successful and dominant big-game pitchers I have been around," Arnold said. "And there are also some rule constraints that we have to work through with the health issue. There are a lot of unknowns, but obviously the best version of that guy is someone you would love to have on your roster."

Woodruff holds a career 3.10 earned run average, which stands as the best in franchise history among pitchers with at least 500 innings. Despite his limited appearances this season, he posted a 2-2 record with a 2.98 ERA across nine starts. His last postseason appearance came in 2021, as injuries forced him to miss the entirety of the 2024 campaign and the team's playoff run last year due to a lat strain.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays also adjusted their roster for the championship series, adding left-hander Garrett Cleavinger in place of right-hander Brody Hopkins. The Rays maintained the rest of the roster that secured their victory over the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.