Brandon Woodruff is on Milwaukee’s World Series roster. The Brewers submitted their 26-man roster Friday morning, hours before Game 1 against Tampa Bay, and the 33-year-old two-time All-Star was on it — taking the spot of right-hander Chad Patrick on a 13-man pitching staff. It is the only change Milwaukee made from its National League Championship Series roster.
Woodruff has not pitched in a game since July 4, when a shoulder injury — an anterior capsule problem — shut him down. The injury was expected to require season-ending surgery, and surgery was scheduled. Then it wasn’t: as he improved, the operation was canceled, he began throwing again in late August, and on Tuesday he threw about 23 pitches in a live batting-practice session to teammates, with his fastball reported at 90 to 92 miles per hour. He made nine starts this season, going 2–2 with a 2.98 ERA, and his 3.10 career ERA is the best in Brewers history among pitchers with at least 500 innings.
Manager Pat Murphy, via the Associated Press: “It’s almost incredible that the kid has worked his way back.” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold called Woodruff “one of the most successful, dominant big-game pitchers I’ve ever been around.” Woodruff, who is playing on a $22.025 million qualifying-offer contract, said: “I didn’t want this to be a charity pick… I just wanted to help win and give innings.”
The roster moves, in brief
- Milwaukee: Woodruff in, Chad Patrick out — 13 pitchers on the roster
- Woodruff: out since July 4 (shoulder); season-ending surgery scheduled, then canceled; ~23 live pitches Tuesday at 90–92 mph
- 2026 line: 2–2, 2.98 ERA in nine starts; 3.10 career ERA, best in Brewers history (min. 500 innings)
- The risk (AP): if the shoulder flares, Milwaukee likely cannot replace him mid-Series
- Tampa Bay: lefty Garrett Cleavinger in, rookie Brody Hopkins out; Rays carry 12 pitchers
The Associated Press notes the gamble in the move: because Woodruff’s injury is not what the rules call “acute, non-chronic” — it predates the postseason — Milwaukee likely could not replace him on the roster if the shoulder flares up during the Series. Tampa Bay made one change of its own: left-hander Garrett Cleavinger is back on the roster and rookie right-hander Brody Hopkins, who did not pitch in the ALCS, is off it. The Rays carry 12 pitchers; Cleavinger himself has not pitched in about seven weeks after forearm tightness cost him the final three weeks of the regular season.
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