HOUSTON — Bryan Woo, the Seattle Mariners’ best pitcher in 2025, has been diagnosed with inflammation in his pectoral muscle, but manager Dan Wilson indicated before Saturday’s game vs. the Houston Astros that Woo’s status is unclear as the team moves into the last days of the regular season.
“The MRI revealed some minor inflammation in his pec,” Wilson said. “Really, just kind of a day-to-day thing. We’ll continue to assess him each day, and we’ll know more in the next 24 to 48 hours, depending on how he responds (to treatment).”
There are no firm plans in place for Woo to make his next scheduled start, or when he might try to throw again. “He’ll obviously want to get out (on the mound) as soon as possible,” Wilson said.
Woo threw five scoreless innings against the Astros on Friday night, but after returning to the dugout at the end of the fifth, he reported to the Seattle staff that he was experiencing tightness. As Woo went out to warm up to pitch the bottom of the sixth, there was already a reliever warming up in the Seattle bullpen, just in case.
And after three light warm-up tosses, Woo walked off the mound and was immediately accompanied out of the dugout by an athletic trainer.
The Mariners’ rotation could be the best and deepest among the teams contending for a playoff spot, and Woo has been the most consistent, durable performer in the group. Woo has a 2.94 ERA in 30 starts this season, allowing only 137 hits in 186 2/3 innings, all good enough for Woo to be named to the American League All-Star team. Woo’s performance against the Astros was typical for him this year, with the right-hander punching the top of the strike zone with 96-97 mile per hour fastballs and sweeping breaking balls off the edge of the plate. He allowed one hit and struck out seven in five innings, before the pec issue developed.
“He’s put together an incredible season, in terms of his health,” said Wilson, before mentioning Woo’s streak of throwing at least six innings in his first 25 starts this season. “This is a guy who has found a great mental space to go to, and that’s been a big key for him, and if he gets there, he’s really tough.”
The Mariners have to hope that he’ll be healthy enough to get there again, in the last week of the regular season and the postseason. Seattle entered play Saturday leading the Astros in the AL West by one game.