Seattle Mariners’ most important regular player returns

The Seattle Mariners pitching staff will finally be back at full strength this week and the timing couldn’t be better.

Mariners starter Bryan Woo is scheduled to pitch in Game 2 of the team’s four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, according to multiple reports from Daniel Kramer of MLB.com and Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times.

Woo was placed on the 15-day injured list after straining his right thigh during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 24.

Woo made a rehab start with the team’s High-A Everett AquaSox on July 6, going 2.2 innings. He allowed a two-run home run but also struck out two batters.

Seattle manager Scott Servais mentioned in a pre-July 4th game interview that he expected Woo to rehab again. But Woo felt physically good enough after the rehab assignment that the Mariners were able to put him back in the rotation before the All-Star break.

If Woo returns, the second-year pitcher could have even more talent than when he was placed on the injured list.

Woo revealed in a post-game interview with Chad Greaby (of Everett) after starting his rehab that he is working on a new slider.

“I tried to throw (the new slider) a lot,” Woo said in the interview. “I threw a lot with the two fastballs this year, but I’m always trying to refine the off-speed stuff and make it a little more effective. But overall, I’m really happy with how it went today.”

According to Baseball Savant, Woo’s best pitches are a four-seam fastball, which he throws 53.5 percent of the time, and a sinker, which he throws at a rate of 26.5 percent. Only six percent of his pitches this season have been sliders.

Woo will enter Friday’s game with a 1.77 ERA and 28 strikeouts in eight starts this year. He will face former Seattle pitcher Tyler Anderson, who has a 2.81 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 18 starts this season.

Woo’s activation from the injured list comes with a corresponding roster change, as the Mariners have reached their 40-man roster limit.

MARINERS PITCHER RECEIVES EXCELLENT UPDATE: Seattle manager Scott Servais gave a positive update on Bryan Woo’s availability for a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. CLICK HERE

MARINERS PITCHING PROSPECTUS IS ACKNOWLEDGED: Brandyn Garcia of the Seattle Mariners’ Double-A Arkansas Travelers was named the Texas League’s Pitcher of the Week on Monday. CLICK HERE

MARINERS KILL PADRES: The Seattle Mariners’ strength was once again pitching as their team earned a 2-0 win over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego on Wednesday. CLICK HERE

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