Mariners Make Bryan Woo Decision Before MLB Playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh Valdez | Last updated Sep 23, 2025 6:49 PM ET

The Seattle Mariners are headlined by catcher Cal Raleigh, who leads baseball with 58 homers and is in a tight race for AL MVP with New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge. However, ace pitcher Bryan Woo (15-7, 2.94 ERA) is also vital to their success.

The 25-year-old ranks fifth in MLB in wins, 11th in ERA, second with a 0.93 WHIP, and is tied for ninth with 198 strikeouts. He is also tied for 15th among pitchers with a 4.3 WAR, and the Mariners' second-leading hurler in that category is closer Andrés Muñoz (3-2, 1.49 ERA) at 2.6.

Woo left Friday's 4-0 win against the Houston Astros after 67 pitches due to right pectoral tightness, and imaging revealed minor inflammation on Saturday, via The Seattle Times' Ryan Divish. Seattle general manager Justin Hollander revealed the team's immediate plan with the right-hander before Tuesday's bout with the Colorado Rockies, via MLB.com's Daniel Kramer.

He said that Woo will not start in his scheduled rotation spot on Thursday, but the Mariners still have 'zero plans' to place him on the injured list. The "tentative plan" is for Woo to play catch either Wednesday or Thursday.

Woo has a 2.86 ERA in September and tossed five shutout innings before exiting against the Astros on Friday, allowing just one hit and one walk against seven strikeouts. Seattle could use the third-year veteran to help clinch the AL West title, as it leads Houston by three games atop the division with six contests left. However, it's more important to preserve him for the playoffs.

Bryan Woo will not start in his scheduled rotation spot on Thursday, Justin Hollander said, adding that the Mariners still have “zero plans” to place him on the IL.

The tentative plan is for Woo to play catch either tomorrow or Thursday.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) September 23, 2025

Mariners Positioned for Biggest Playoff Run in Years

Seattle hasn't made the ALDS since 2022 or the ALCS since 2001, but it has the talent to change that this season. In addition to Raleigh and Woo, it has former AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez, three-time All-Star Luis Castillo (10-8, 3.63 ERA), two-time All-Star Randy Arozerena, and 2019 All-Star Jorge Polanco. Furthermore, Muñoz is third in baseball with 37 saves out of 47 chances.

The Mariners have the third-best record in the AL, trailing the Toronto Blue Jays by three games and the New York Yankees by one. They're also two games ahead of the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox.

If Seattle stays in that position, it'll get a free pass to the ALDS. The two best division winners each get that privilege, and Toronto and New York are both in the AL East.

Right-handed pitcher Bryce Miller (4-5, 5.58 ERA) will start for the Mariners against Rockies right-hander McCade Brown (0-4, 9.17 ERA) on Tuesday night.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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