Brewers' Brandon Woodruff fuels fire of a World Series return with postgame celebration comments

The Milwaukee Brewers are heading to the World Series. Typing that sentence will truly never get old. After an incredible four-game sweep of the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, Pat Murphy's squad will play for the first World Series championship in franchise history.

However, Brewers fans will have to wait an agonizing seven days before the first game of the 2026 World Series. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, October 24 at American Family Field (start time TBD), meaning the Brewers will have plenty of time to rest up and prepare for the Fall Classic.

That time off will give relievers like Aaron Ashby and Abner Uribe, both of whom have pitched a great deal through the Brewers' first eight games of the 2026 postseason, necessary time off, and it will also allow Milwaukee to line up starting pitchers Jacob Misiorowski, Logan Henderson, and Robert Gasser for Games 1, 2, and 3, respectively, of the World Series. However, there's another positive potential side effect of the Brewers' time off before the Fall Classic begins: veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff will have more time to prepare for a potential return to the mound in the World Series.

Woodruff, who was headed for season-ending surgery in late July before reversing course and opting to rehab through his familiar anterior capsule injury in his right shoulder, discussed his potential return to the mound in the World Series with Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after last night's NLCS victory. As seen in the video below, on the prospect of him pitching in the World Series, Woodruff said, "It's going to be hard to keep me off that roster. I'm going to do everything I can. I'm in a good spot."

Brandon Woodruff takes an optimistic tone when discussing his availability for the World Series

Woodruff, who hasn't pitched in a game since July 4, wants nothing more than to help the Brewers win their first World Series title -- the 33-year-old right-hander said as much in his interview with Hogg last night. Woody hasn't pitched in the postseason since the 2021 season, but has a very real chance to end that unfortunate streak during this year's Fall Classic.

That said, a lot still has to happen for Woodruff's hope to come to fruition. For the Brewers to include him on their World Series roster, the franchise legend will have to prove he's prepared for high-leverage situations without the benefit of having a real in-game outing. Yes, the Brewers can simulate a game-like environment with scrimmages and live ABs, but there's nothing that compares to the environment of a postseason game. Throwing Woodruff into that situation without much build-up is undoubtedly a risk for the Brewers.

On the other hand, Woodruff has defied the odds on several occasions throughout the 2026 season. He remained effective despite a dip in velocity, he returned after early-season shoulder inflammation, and through it all maintained a 2.98 ERA in nine starts. If there's one pitcher who the Brewers trust to come in "cold" and be effective in the World Series, it's Woodruff and his unparalleled competitiveness.

It's by no means an easy decision, assuming Woodruff proves he's healthy enough to be included on the Brewers' World Series roster. The Brewers will have to decide if having Woodruff, fresh off of his rehab, on their 26-man roster is more valuable than an arm like Chad Patrick or Kyle Harrison, neither of whom pitched in either the NLDS or NLCS. Milwaukee has to take the emotion out of the decision, something they've consistently done in their path to building a World Series caliber roster, and make the decision that gives them the best chance to reach their ultimate goal.

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