The Milwaukee Brewers will play in their first World Series game in 44 years on Friday, and they will have Brandon Woodruff available.
Woodruff was supposed to get season-ending shoulder surgery, but miraculously avoided it. He started throwing again and gave himself a chance to be on the roster. He faced hitters on Tuesday after having last pitched in a game on July 4. He is on the roster, but it's unclear what his role will be.
"Yeah, one or the other," manager Pat Murphy said when asked if Woodruff would start or come out of the bullpen.
It's hard to imagine he is stretched out to make a traditional start, but it sounds like the option is at least on the table. Game 4 could be the game to keep an eye on, as the Brewers will most likely be throwing a bullpen game. If Woodruff starts, it will likely be as an opener in that game.
"It could be any role, honestly," president of baseball operations and general manager Matt Arnold said on Friday. "He just wants the baseball."
"Not necessarily," Arnold said of Woodruff being a starter. "We're still working through what that will look like."
At this point in the year, there are not many surprises the Brewers can throw at their opponent. However, Woodruff is one of them. The Brewers are looking for any slight advantage they can get, and keeping the Rays guessing about Woodruff is one of them.