Bryan Woo and Kyle Bradish are two starting pitchers that have shown they can be aces.
Woo was an All-Star and came in fifth in AL Cy Young Award voting last season for the Mariners, who were one win away from making their first World Series appearance in franchise history. Bradish is back and healthy after missing most of the 2024 and ‘25 seasons with Tommy John surgery. But before that, he came in fourth in AL Cy Young Award voting in 2023.
After each had a strong May, both of them are looking to bounce back after starting June on the wrong foot. That begins Thursday, when the Orioles and Mariners wrap a four-game series in Baltimore exclusively on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET.
Woo started June by facing the Tigers in Detroit, and while he continued to give the Mariners length, he allowed five runs in 6 1/3 innings on Friday. However, in his five previous starts, he was 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings. He went six innings or more in four of those starts.
In that final start of May, Woo relied on his four-seam fastball, throwing his four-seamer on 41 of his 86 pitches. That pitch has often been the key to his success. His four-seamer was tied for the fourth-most valuable pitch in baseball in run value last year, and it’s tied for the 11th-most valuable pitch this year.
“I was just sticking with my plan,” Woo said after his final May start. “When it comes down to it, that’s what I always want to do: stick to my strengths and what I’m doing."
On the other hand, Bradish lasted only four innings against the Blue Jays last time out, allowing five runs on nine hits. Like Woo, though, Bradish ended May on a high note. In his final five starts of May, he had a 1.72 ERA while averaging more than six innings per start.
In his final May start, Bradish allowed only one unearned run on four hits in seven innings. For him, his breaking balls were key, as he generated 11 whiffs in that outing -- seven by slider and four by curveball.
“That’s the Bradish we know,” catcher Samuel Basallo said via team interpreter Brandon Quinones. “He’s attacking the zone, he’s throwing a bunch of strikes, going after hitters. All his pitches are working really well right now. He’s being very aggressive right now, and that’s the Bradish we like to see.”