The Milwaukee Brewers could be getting a major boost before the World Series, as Brandon Woodruff continues to make an unexpected push toward returning from a serious shoulder injury.
Brandon Woodruff throwing live batting practice earlier today in Milwaukee 👀 https://t.co/J9LSUnsBuE
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) October 21, 2026
Woodruff threw 23 pitches to Milwaukee’s top hitters during a live batting practice session Tuesday, and the results could force the Brewers to reconsider their World Series roster plans.
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Brandon Woodruff is making a legitimate World Series push
Woodruff has not appeared in a game since July 4 and was initially headed toward season-ending shoulder surgery. Instead, his shoulder improved enough for him to resume throwing, and the longtime Brewers starter has steadily progressed throughout the postseason.
Tuesday represented his biggest test yet. Woodruff faced Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, Brice Turang and Jake Bauers, throwing 23 live pitches with his fastball sitting between 90 and 92 mph. It was his first time facing live hitters in nearly four months.
That does not mean Woodruff is ready to return to his normal role as a starting pitcher. The Brewers are still deciding whether he can help them in the World Series, with president of baseball operations Matt Arnold saying the organization is “still working through our meetings.”
Woodruff himself understands the uncertainty. The Brewers must submit their World Series roster Friday morning before Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Rays, leaving only a short window to evaluate how his shoulder responds to the live batting practice session.
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Woodruff could give Brewers another pitching option
If Milwaukee ultimately decides to add Woodruff, the most realistic role would likely come out of the bullpen rather than as a traditional starter. Reports have indicated that he could potentially work in relief, and the Brewers have already been building him toward a possible postseason return in that capacity.
That could still be extremely valuable.
A healthy Woodruff would give manager Pat Murphy another experienced arm capable of potentially handling multiple innings. Depending on how he looks, Milwaukee could use him as a bridge behind an opener, potentially asking him to cover 2-3 innings, or deploy him in a more traditional relief role.
The risk, however, is significant. Woodruff has not pitched competitively since July, and MLB rules could prevent Milwaukee from replacing him on the World Series roster if he suffers another shoulder-related setback because postseason roster replacements generally require an acute, non-chronic injury.
That is the major factor working against his inclusion.
Still, the fact that Woodruff has progressed far enough to face Milwaukee’s best hitters changes the conversation. The Brewers already reached the World Series without him. If he can somehow give them meaningful innings against the Rays, their pitching staff could become even more dangerous.
For a team chasing its first World Series championship, adding a former All-Star and longtime franchise ace — even in a limited role — could be a fascinating gamble.
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