Mariners’ Pitcher Set To Return For Start Against Angels

Before the current four-game series started, the Los Angeles Angels weren’t too worried about the Mariners’ anemic offense. They were worried about Seattle’s arms.

Both facets proved effective for the Mariners in an 11-0 win over the Angels on Thursday in Anaheim, Calif. The series continues Friday night.

The Mariners rank last in the major leagues in hits (681) and batting average (.220) and have struck out more than any other team (979). On the flip side, Seattle’s pitching staff leads the American League with a 3.47 ERA.

On Thursday, the Angels managed just five hits against Luis Castillo and two relievers in the blowout loss.

“There wasn’t too much mystery to it,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “If you look at the overall game, they got 15 hits and 11 runs.”

It won’t get easier for the Angels on Friday, as the Mariners plan to activate right-hander Bryan Woo from the injured list and give him the start.

Woo (3-1, 1.77 ERA) hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 24, when he left a game against the Tampa Bay Rays after just three-plus innings due to a hamstring strain. It led to Woo’s second stint this season on the injured list.

On Saturday, Woo made a rehab start for Class-A Everett and threw 45 pitches, 28 for strikes. He gave up a homer but was happy to get through the outing with no pain, pronouncing himself ready to go.

“My hamstring feels good,” Woo said. “Really excited about how everything went. I was able to get through it — no bumps, no anything. So yeah — all good.”

Woo added that he is working on a new slider.

“I was trying to throw it a lot,” Woo said. “I’ve been throwing the two fastballs a lot this year, but I’m always trying to refine the off-speed stuff and make them a little bit more effective. But overall, I’m really happy with how (the rehab start) went.”

Woo has been particularly problematic for the Angels. In four career starts against Los Angeles, he has fashioned a 1.61 ERA over 22 1/3 innings, with 23 strikeouts and just three walks.

In his latest start against the Angels, Woo threw six shutout innings of three-hit ball in Seattle on May 31, getting a no-decision in a game the Mariners won 5-4.

The Angels will counter Woo with their only All-Star — left-hander Tyler Anderson, who was named to his second All-Star Game on Sunday.

Anderson (8-8, 2.81) is coming off one of the most dominant starts of his nine-year career. On Saturday, he held the Chicago Cubs to just three singles in eight scoreless innings, needing just 98 pitches to retire 24 of the 27 batters he faced. He struck out 10, tying his career high, without issuing a walk.

The 34-year-old veteran is having a bounce-back season after posting a 5.43 ERA during his first season with the Angels in 2023.

“I changed my routine, getting my body in a better position than I was last year,” Anderson said. “I feel like last year I kind of got away from that. I was trying to change some things and worried about a lot of the wrong stuff. This year, I kind of trust what I know and stick with that.”

Anderson is 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA in five career starts against Seattle.