The Milwaukee Brewers are adding a familiar name to their pitching staff for the World Series. Brandon Woodruff has officially been added to Milwaukee’s 26-man roster for the Fall Classic against the Tampa Bay Rays, giving the Brewers another experienced arm as they pursue the first World Series championship in franchise history.
Woodruff takes the roster spot of right-hander Chad Patrick, marking the only change Milwaukee made to its roster ahead of Game 1 on Friday. The move gives the two-time All-Star an opportunity to pitch in the World Series after spending months working his way back from a shoulder injury.
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Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff Returns for the World Series
Woodruff has not pitched in a game since July 4, when he made a start against the Arizona Diamondbacks. A shoulder injury initially appeared likely to end his season, and he was expected to undergo surgery in August.
However, Woodruff’s recovery took a different turn when the procedure was no longer considered necessary. He resumed throwing and gradually worked his way back onto the mound, keeping alive the possibility of returning during the postseason.
The final step came earlier this week, when Woodruff faced live hitters during a batting practice session. His performance gave the Brewers another reason to consider including him on the World Series roster.
Milwaukee ultimately decided the potential benefit was worth the risk. Woodruff is a veteran who has spent his entire major league career with the Brewers, and the team believes his experience could be valuable against Tampa Bay.
Woodruff’s Numbers With the Brewers in 2026
Despite his injury-shortened season, Woodruff was effective when available. He finished the regular season with a 2-2 record and a 2.98 ERA across nine starts.
The 33-year-old right-hander has been one of Milwaukee’s most dependable pitchers over the years. Since making his major league debut in 2017, he has compiled a 55-30 record with a 3.10 ERA.
That experience is particularly important in October. Woodruff has appeared in eight career postseason games, recording a 3.18 ERA and 40 strikeouts in those appearances.
Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold acknowledged that there are uncertainties surrounding Woodruff’s return, but made it clear the pitcher was worth considering.
“This is a guy that’s one of the most successful, dominant big-game pitchers I’ve ever been around,” Arnold said. “A lot of unknowns there, but obviously, the good version of that guy is somebody you’d love to have on your roster.”
What Woodruff’s Addition Means for Milwaukee
Adding Woodruff gives manager Pat Murphy another option as the Brewers prepare for a World Series matchup against the Rays. Milwaukee has already made it through the National League playoffs, defeating the San Diego Padres in the Division Series before sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
Woodruff’s exact role remains to be seen. He has not appeared in a game in more than three months, so the Brewers will have to determine how best to use him and what workload he can handle.
There is also a roster consideration. Because Woodruff’s shoulder issue is a known injury, Milwaukee could face restrictions on replacing him if the problem returns during the series. That made the decision more complicated than a typical roster addition.
Still, the Brewers chose to include him, giving one of their longest-tenured players a chance to contribute on baseball’s biggest stage.
Milwaukee opens the World Series against Tampa Bay on Friday at American Family Field. With Woodruff now on the roster, the Brewers will have another experienced pitcher available as they look to finish off a season that has already brought them back to the Fall Classic for the first time since 1982.