Bryan

Woo

Woo came out of the bullpen to protect a two-run lead in the fifth inning and needed just 28 pitches to navigate two scoreless frames. His most impressive moment came when he fanned Blue Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a hard-biting sweeper following a nine-pitch battle. Things unraveled in the ensuing frame when he issued a leadoff walk to Addison Barger and a single to light-hitting Isiah Kiner-Falefa before being lifted with one out. He was charged with both runs when teammate Eduard Bazardo served up a go-ahead homer to George Springer.

They’d be on two days’ rest after Woo threw 28 pitches and Miller threw 56 in Game 5 on Friday. Woo, who was making his first appearance in nearly four weeks after recovering from pectoral inflammation, would seem to be far more likely than Miller to pitch in the game, with Miller perhaps becoming more of an option if extra innings are involved. The Mariners will have George Kirby start the game, with Game 4 starter Luis Castillo also surely available to take over at any point.

Wilson added that Bryan Woo (pectoral) will be available out of the bullpen for the rest of the ALCS. Miller limited Toronto to just one run over six innings to pick up the win in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series and draws the starting assignment for Friday night’s Game 5 matchup in Seattle. Woo has yet to pitch this postseason due to pectoral inflammation, but it sounds like he’ll be available in shorter bursts out of the bullpen for the remainder of the series as opposed to making a traditional start. He figures to follow Miller in Game 5, assuming he isn’t needed to pitch in relief of veteran Luis Castillo in Game 4.

Woo, returning from pectoral inflammation, could start ALCS Game 5 for the Mariners, perhaps working in tandem with Bryce Miller. It’d be Woo’s first appearance since Sept. 19, when he threw five scoreless innings against the Astros.

That should rule Woo out for the first three games of the series, at least. The Mariners are probably targeting a Game 5 start for the right-handers, unless maybe things get crazy tonight and they opt to pitch Logan Gilbert or Luis Castillo in relief again.

Woo’s return provides a massive lift for Seattle’s rotation mix for the best-of-seven series against Toronto after missing the ALDS recovering from pectoral inflammation. It’s unclear when he’ll take the ball during the extended series, but Mariners manager Dan Wilson should provide an update at some point prior to Game 1. The 25-year-old ace posted a spectacular 2.94 ERA across a career-high 186 2/3 innings over 30 starts during the regular season. The only other changes for the Mariners involve versatile Miles Mastrobuoni joining their bench mix with Luke Raley and rookie Ben Williamson being left off.

It sounds like Woo be available until later on in the upcoming ALCS showdown against the Blue Jays based on Dipoto’s comments following Seattle’s series-clinching win over the Tigers. However, his impending return provides a significant lift to Seattle’s rotation mix. The 25-year-old ace, who completed a bullpen session prior to Friday’s exhilarating 15-inning winner-take-all affair, has been sidelined since the start of the postseason recovering from pectoral inflammation.

Woo, 27, was unavailable in the ALDS because of his pectoral issue, but the right-hander will have a chance to be a key cog in the pitching staff for Seattle if they’re able to advance to face the Blue Jays. The 27-year-old could be an option — assuming the bullpen goes well, of course — in Game 1 or Game 2 of that series.

It’s a significant loss for Seattle’s pitching staff heading into a best-of-five series against the Tigers as Woo remains sidelined heading into the postseason while continuing to recover from pectoral inflammation that sidelined him at the conclusion of the regular season. There was optimism the 25-year-old ace would be ready for the ALDS, but it sounds like he’s going to get some additional time off. It’ll likely fall on Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo to step up in his absence behind Logan Gilbert and George Kirby.

Mariners’ pitching coach Pete Woodworth was right there looking in on the session, and all appeared to go well for the 25-year-old right-hander. Woo then proceeded to face a couple of live hitters in a simulated game. He’ll still need to make it through another bullpen session before he’s cleared to return, but it sounds like he should be good to start in either Game 3 or Game 4 against either the Tigers or Guardians.