Brewers add Brandon Woodruff to the World Series roster after more than three months out with a shoulder injury

Brandon Woodruff is back for the biggest stage of all. The Milwaukee Brewers added the veteran right-hander to their World Series roster Friday ahead of Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Rays at American Family Field.

Woodruff has not pitched in a game in three and a half months because of a shoulder injury. He takes the roster spot of righty Chad Patrick, which leaves Milwaukee with 13 pitchers and 13 position players again.

Woodruff said Thursday, before he knew whether he had made it, that winning is the only thing he cares about. "I know it's not an easy decision. Everything had to work out perfectly just to even have a shot at getting to this point."

A comeback no one expected

Woodruff, 33, left a July 4 start against Arizona with what was later diagnosed as an inflamed right shoulder. Soon after, he said he would need his second surgery in four years, a move that almost surely would have ended his season.

Before the procedure, new imaging showed enough healing for him to start throwing instead. That started a two-month rehab that ended with Friday's news. His fastball, which had dropped to 87 mph on July 4, was reportedly back to 92-93 mph in a simulated game this week.

"Getting to the point where I'm at now was all I could ask for," Woodruff said. "I've probably made their decision a little bit harder, which is a good problem for them. I'm lucky."

A risk worth taking

General manager Matt Arnold called Woodruff one of the most dominant big-game pitchers he has been around. The call was still not simple. Under postseason rules, if Woodruff got hurt again during the series the Brewers might have to play a man short.

Woodruff is the longest-tenured Brewer and joined the club in 2017. He is a two-time All-Star and had a 2.98 ERA in nine starts before he got hurt. He has also become a mentor to the youngest pitching staff in baseball.

"Big Woo is an awesome human being," said Game 1 starter Jacob Misiorowski. "He's in there every day working."

Milwaukee won a franchise-record 103 games and is 7-1 this postseason. The Rays kept 12 pitchers and 14 hitters and swapped reliever Brody Hopkins for lefty Garrett Cleavinger.