MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers added right-hander Brandon Woodruff to the World Series roster on Friday following his unexpected comeback from a shoulder injury.
The Brewers replaced right-hander Chad Patrick, the only change to the 26-man roster (13 pitchers, 13 position players) for the best-of-seven series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Game 1 is Friday night in Milwaukee.
Woodruff, a two-time All-Star who has been with the Brewers since they drafted him in the 11th round in 2014, has not pitched since July 4. The team’s longest-tenured active player was originally scheduled for surgery, which was canceled after he showed signs of improvement.
Woodruff, 33, began a throwing program in late August and threw off a mound during each of the Brewers’ first two postseason series. He threw about two dozen live pitches Tuesday to teammates.
“It went as good as it could have gone,” Woodruff said Thursday. “And I’ve probably made their decision a little bit harder, which is a good problem for them. So, I’m lucky, I’m blessed. We got a chance to win the World Series and regardless of what happens, I will be just as excited to win if I’m on the roster or not.”
Woodruff, who missed most of the 2025 season recovering from shoulder surgery, was 2-2 with a 2.98 ERA in nine starts during the 2026 regular season.
For his career, Woodruff is 1-3 with a 3.18 ERA, 40 strikeouts and just four walks in 28 1/3 innings across eight postseason games (four starts).
“This is a guy that’s one of the most successful, dominant big-game pitchers I’ve ever been around,” president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said on Thursday.
Woodruff is 55-30 with a 3.10 ERA since debuting with the Brewers in 2017. At the end of last season, he took a $10 million buyout after declining his half of a mutual option, but then accepted a $22.025 million, one-year qualifying offer.
His unexpected postseason return comes as Milwaukee plays in its first World Series since 1982.
“I just wanted to be an option at this point,” Woodruff said. “I know what I bring to the table as a player and I’ll always believe in myself.”