Is there a world where Brandon Woodruff makes the Milwaukee Brewers playoff roster and either starts or appears in a game?

Woodruff isn't ruling out that possibility.

Obviously, there are significant hurdles to get to that point, and as pointed out by Brewers' Adam McCalvy, the clock is ticking.

Woodruff may have gotten Dr. Keith Meister's blessing to throw off a mound, but he's nowhere near ready to play in the National League Division Series.

The veteran knows the door is still open for his return, though; it'll just take a ramped-up process these next few weeks, along with a Brewers team that can finally get over the hump and make the World Series.

As long as Woodruff and Meister are on the same page, it seems like the 33-year-old is at least going to attempt throwing to see where things are at.

He caught a major break when it was announced that he wouldn't need surgery, but that doesn't mean he's immediately good to go.

The Brewers are obviously going to focus on his long-term health, and he's coming off a significant injury that kept him off the mound the entire 2024 season.

Velocity was a huge concern for Big Woo this year, and while he had a few stellar starts with the team, he got hurt a couple of times this year, most notably what many assumed to be a season-ending injury after his start on July 4.

"I know the clock is ticking against me. But I’m trying, that’s for sure. Whether it’s smart or not, I don’t know. But if it means pitching in the World Series …” Woodruff told McCalvy.

Woodruff said he doesn't have to "just sit here like a potato," and instead he's more motivated than he ever has been before.

If there's ever a Brewers team capable of making a deep run, it's this one.

Sure, their NLDS opponent may be red-hot, but so are the Brewers. This is a team that set the franchise wins record this season, and shattered it as part of a 103-win season.

They secured a first-round bye for the second consecutive season, and they've got a young stud named Jacob Misiorowski who's looking to lead the charge.

Would having Woodruff around help this team win a World Series? Absolutely. But at the same time, there are some things bigger than baseball, and no one would want to harm Woodruff's long-term health over a ring.