Struggling Mariners turn to Bryan Woo in finale vs. Astros
The Seattle Mariners aren’t scheduled to send All-Star Logan Gilbert to the mound Sunday as they try to regain a share of the American League West lead and avoid a three-game sweep by the visiting Houston Astros.
Instead, oft-injured Bryan Woo (3-1, 2.45 ERA) will pitch against Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco (9-4, 2.56) in the series finale.
Why?
“There were a couple different things to look at, obviously,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Is this the biggest series of the year? No, because we’re going to play Houston again. There (are) other things that are going on here over the last two-plus months of the season. You want to keep guys in some rhythm, and I think putting Bryan Woo into this series is something that we talked a lot about. We want to get him pitching again and didn’t want to have the layoff to be too long.
“On the flip side of that, Logan has probably carried as many innings as anybody in the American League. He’s been awesome, and he’s going to have plenty of time to impact what we’re doing here. We lined it up the way we did, and all these guys are going to pitch a lot and they’re all going to pitch in big games.”
Woo hasn’t started since July 12 in Anaheim, Calif., when he lasted just 3 1/3 innings in a 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
And Gilbert has pitched an MLB-leading 132 1/3 innings, though he didn’t appear in the Midsummer Classic because he started last Sunday against the Angels.
“In a series like this, I always wish I could be out there, it’d be really fun,” Gilbert said. “But I also understand it, and I love having a little bit of rest. It’s very much appreciated at this point in the season.
