Full Breakdown
Brewers weigh Brandon Woodruff’s inclusion on World Series roster
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Milwaukee’s right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who has not pitched in a game since July 4 because of a severe right-shoulder injury, is under evaluation for the Brewers’ 26-man World Series roster. After a live-batting-practice session against teammates, manager Pat Murphy must decide whether to keep Woodruff as an option or exclude him, knowing that MLB rules would prevent the club from replacing him on the postseason roster if he re-injures himself.
Background & Context
Woodruff, a two-time All-Star who debuted in 2017, spent the 2026 regular season on the 60-day injured list after an anterior capsule strain in his right shoulder. The Brewers reached the World Series for the first time since 1982, advancing without needing two of their 13-pitcher staff in the NLDS and NLCS. The decision on Woodruff is the only remaining roster move before the Fall Classic.
Data & Statistics
- 2026 season: 45 1/3 innings in nine starts, 2.98 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 47 strikeouts (source).
- Career: 19.0 bWAR, 3.10 ERA over 790 1/3 innings, 19 wins, two All-Star selections (source).
- Age: 33; contract: two-year deal signed February 2024 with a $22 million qualifying offer (source).
- Injury history: right-shoulder inflammation in May–June, a second IL stint in late June, and surgery on the anterior capsule in October 2023 (source).
Official Statements & Responses
Pat Murphy said Woodruff “threw the ball really well” in his recent bullpen session and acknowledged that the club would be unable to replace him on the World Series roster if he were to suffer another injury, citing MLB’s rule that only acute, non-chronic injuries permit a replacement. MLB.com’s regulations reinforce that a recurring or pre-existing injury would block a roster substitution. Woodruff himself expressed readiness, stating he is “ready to go. Heck yeah.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “I can see it either way. There's a lot to mull over for them, for sure, about me,” — Brandon Woodruff, the Brewers’ veteran “I can see it either way. There's a lot to mull over for them, for sure, about me,” — Brandon Woodruff, the brewers' veteran
- “It's gonna be hard to keep me off that roster,” — Brandon Woodruff, the Brewers’ veteran “It's gonna be hard to keep me off that roster,” — Brandon Woodruff, the brewers' veteran
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on whether Woodruff avoided surgery. One report notes he “avoided surgery” after the July 4 injury, while other outlets state he underwent surgery on the shoulder’s anterior capsule in October 2023. Additionally, WHIP figures vary slightly (0.84 vs. 0.838) and one source mentions 10 walks in the season, a detail not echoed elsewhere. No public statement has confirmed the final roster decision, leaving the exact health status and readiness of Woodruff uncertain.
What’s Next
Pat Murphy is expected to announce the final roster composition in the days leading up to the World Series opening game on Friday at American Family Field. The Brewers must balance Woodruff’s veteran experience against the risk of an unreplaceable injury, a choice that could influence the outcome of the Fall Classic.