The Mariners still aren’t sure exactly when Bryan Woo will take the mound again, but the club doesn’t believe the right-hander is headed for the injured list.
Woo came out of his last start on Aug. 16 after only 75 pitches because of right shoulder soreness, and he was scratched from Saturday’s game against the Chicago Cubs. That matchup will now become the MLB debut of top pitching prospect Kade Anderson.
“Bryan just needed a couple of extra days coming out of that start in Houston,” manager Dan Wilson said. “Couple extra days to recover and we’ll figure out in the next day or so when we’ll slot Bryan in for his next start.”
Wilson said Woo did not need imaging on the shoulder. He also said the Mariners do not expect the right-hander to miss an entire turn through the rotation, which points toward a possible return during the upcoming series against the Philadelphia Phillies that starts Monday at T-Mobile Park. Bryce Miller is set to start Sunday’s series finale against the Cubs.
Woo has gone 9-8 with a 4.10 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 137 strikeouts against 29 walks across 138 1/3 innings in 24 starts this season.
J.P. Crawford is also still working his way back, and he’ll stay on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma through the weekend. The infielder has been on the IL since July 30 with left wrist inflammation.
Crawford went 0 for 3 in his first rehab game Thursday night, then got Friday off. He is expected to play for the Rainiers on Saturday and Sunday before rejoining the club on Monday for evaluation, according to Wilson.
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