Man, talk about a gut punch. Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff, a two-time All-Star, might not even see a spot on their World Series roster. Seriously, can you believe that?
The Brewers’ Wild Rule Nightmare
Here’s the absolute kicker, straight from Ken Rosenthal: the Brewers are seriously freaking out that if Woodruff gets hurt again, they won’t be able to replace him. Why? Because MLB rules are super tight on this. A player on a postseason roster can only get replaced if they suffer an acute, non-chronic injury. The team’s big fear is that any issue with Woodruff would get flagged as recurring or pre-existing. That means no replacement pitcher, and they’re stuck. It’s a total high-wire act, and it’s making everyone sweat.
Woody’s Fighting Chance and His Fire
Woodruff hasn’t thrown a pitch in a real game since July 4, all thanks to right shoulder inflammation. But don’t let that fool you. The dude is fired up! After the Brewers swept the Dodgers in the NLCS, he made it crystal clear he wants in on that World Series action. He told Curt Hogg, “It’s gonna be hard to keep me off that roster.” That’s the kind of grit you love to see, right? He added, “I’m going to do everything I can. I’m in a good spot. It means a lot to me.” He feels like he can still go out there and dominate, saying, “I’ve always believed in myself. It doesn’t matter if I’ve thrown one pitch in two months or if I have 10 rehab outings. I don’t care. I feel like I can go out there and do it. I hope I get that opportunity.” He even faced Brewers hitters on Tuesday, proving he’s putting in the work to get back.
And let’s not forget what he *did* when he was healthy this year. In nine starts, he posted a solid 2-2 record with a sparkling 2.98 ERA and an insane 0.838 WHIP. He punched out 47 batters and walked only 10 over 45.1 innings. That’s serious talent, just sitting there.
Friday’s Looming Decision Against the Rays
This whole situation is coming to a head fast. The Brewers have to make their final call on Woodruff’s roster status before Game 1 of the World Series kicks off against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. Can you imagine the pressure? Do they take the risk on their All-Star, or do they play it safe and potentially leave a dominant arm sidelined? This is the kind of call that can make or break a championship run. We’ll find out what they decide when the first pitch is about to fly.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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