The Mariners revealed their starter for Friday’s Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Blue Jays — right-hander Bryce Miller. They also added some clarity in terms of Bryan Woo‘s role, as manager Dan Wilson said the All-Star hurler is now available out of the bullpen.
“That’s the plan here going forward,” Wilson added.
Seattle, which entered Thursday’s Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead and could be in position to clinch the AL pennant on Friday, picked Miller on the heels of his strong performance in Game 1. He held Toronto to just two hits and one run in six innings in a 3-1 victory.
Woo’s status was already of immense intrigue, given that he was added to the ALCS roster after being left off Seattle’s 26-man contingent for the AL Division Series vs. Detroit. If and when Woo is deployed, it will be on an abbreviated pitch count, after throwing roughly 25 pitches in a live batting practice on Monday. He hasn’t pitched in a game since exiting a Sept. 19 start in Houston with pectoral inflammation, and he’s never pitched in relief in the Majors.
Woo was the Mariners’ best starter in the regular season, going 15-7 with a 2.94 ERA in 30 starts. He’s yet to pitch in the postseason in his three-year MLB career.
