You can't go a full week without hearing about how dominant the Seattle Mariners' pitching staff is. It is not unfounded, either, as the team holds a 3.72 ERA this season, with the rotation posting a 3.85 ERA.
A key member of the rotation, and quietly the best of the bunch, has been Bryan Woo. This year, the young righty has pitched to a 2.58 ERA across 38.1 innings in six starts with a 141 ERA+ to boot.
Woo is set to take the mound on Wednesday against the division rival Athletics, a team he has dominated to this point in his young career. In fact, he has been so dominant against the A's that it brings to mind a franchise legend who also feasted on the division rival, Felix Hernandez.
King Felix faced the Athletics far more than Woo has to this point in his career, so the small sample size caveat does apply for Woo. However, across 349.2 innings in 53 games versus the A's, Hernandez posted a 2.88 ERA. Across 37.1 innings in seven starts against the Athletics, Woo has posted a 0.72 ERA.
It is a level of dominance that is rarely seen by a pitcher against one team. Woo has pitched more innings against the A's in his career than any other team, but the familiarity they have with his arsenal has done nothing to stop his overpowering performances.
Bryan Woo is a certified ace and a bona fide stud. You can't teach that, but the Mariners can certainly ride his abilities like they once did with Hernandez.
More must-reads: