Brewers' Woodruff, out since July, added to World Series roster

The Milwaukee Brewers have added veteran pitcher Brandon Woodruff to their World Series roster ahead of Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.

Woodruff, 33, has not pitched in a game in 3½ months after a July 4 start against the Arizona Diamondbacks was cut short by what was later diagnosed as an inflamed right shoulder. He replaces right-hander Chad Patrick from the NLCS roster, leaving the Brewers with 13 pitchers and 13 position players.

"I care about one thing, and that's winning," Woodruff said Thursday, before he knew whether he would make the cut.

Woodruff, the longest-tenured member of the National League champions and a two-time All-Star, then began a two-month rehabilitation that culminated in Friday's announcement. His fastball velocity, which had dipped to 87 miles per hour on July 4, was reportedly back near 92-93 mph ahead of the decision.

Before the injury he posted a 2.98 ERA over nine starts. Woodruff first joined the Brewers in 2017, a year before Christian Yelich was acquired.

Brewers Game 1 starter Jacob Misiorowski praised his teammate: "Big Woo is an awesome human being. He's in there every day working."

The Rays, meanwhile, will stick with 12 pitchers and 14 hitters, as they did during the American League Championship Series, and will start Ryan Martinez over ace Drew Rasmussen in Game 1.