SEATTLE -- Bryan Woo day was done by the time Andrés Muñoz began meandering from the first-base dugout to the home bullpen on Wednesday afternoon.
The Mariners’ closer never figured to pitch in this one -- a 6-0 loss to the Phillies that saw Woo surrender all of the day’s runs in the first two innings. Yet, it’s custom for Muñoz to make that trek out there in the middle stages of any game, even runaway defeats.
What was noticeable about this particular stroll, however, was who Muñoz walked alongside.
Bryce Miller also made the lengthy voyage across outfield grass beyond left-center field and watched the rest of this one with Seattle’s relievers.
And it wasn’t for the sun-soaked view.
Miller was a just-in-case arm to provide coverage for a thin bullpen that was facing the possibility of a shorter leash on Woo, who made his first start since experiencing right shoulder discomfort on Aug. 14 in Houston.
And Woo’s outing was indeed abbreviated -- due to the damage against him, not lingering effects, he said -- as he lasted just four innings and 76 pitches. Five of the runs against him came on homers from Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber.
“No, I felt great,” said Woo, who was also asked if there was any impact on the long layoff, adding: “I don’t think at all.”
As for Miller, Wednesday was his standard in-between throw day, and the Mariners intended to parlay that into the game if necessary. That didn’t happen, though, as José A. Ferrer, Eduard Bazardo and Gabe Speier each pitched an inning, then Carlos Vargas finished things out with two.
So, postgame, Miller threw that bullpen before the club’s charter to Toronto.
“Because it's a day where he throws on the side, it might have been something that would have worked out,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “But obviously, we didn't need to do that.”
Essentially, had Miller thrown that bullpen pregame, as is custom, it would’ve eliminated the chance to throw in the game if he was needed. The Mariners’ coaching staff approached him about the whole scenario before the game.
“I said, 'OK.' I mean, I didn't really know what was going on,” Miller said. “I figured, everything Woo told me is that he felt fine. So I think it was more of a precaution in case something happened.”
As far as Wilson communicated in his postgame media session -- and Miller relayed during an interview in the home dugout shortly after -- this was a Wednesday-only thing.
But with the Mariners now carrying six starters after Kade Anderson’s call-up, with 10 games over their next 10 days beginning Friday and with Miller’s ongoing struggles -- the club has said that it will discuss all options.
“The results do matter, as do how guys are feeling,” general manager Justin Hollander said earlier this week. “So we'll take all that into account, and we'll make a call as we need to make a call.”
The Mariners did not announce their rotation plans for this weekend’s ALCS rematch, partly because they wanted to assess Woo’s outing on Wednesday.
If they remained on turn, it would give Emerson Hancock the first start, then Anderson, then Miller. Each would be pitching on six days’ rest, which the club would prefer for Anderson, who was on that routine in the Minors.
But conceivably, they could make a change for Sunday.
The Mariners have lost each of Miller’s past eight starts dating back to July 9, over which he’s carried a 7.19 ERA. Hollander said on Monday that Miller had experienced lat tightness one month ago, but not to the point where an IL stint was considered.
On paper, Miller would be the most logical to move to the bullpen if the Mariners were to subtract a starter from the rotation. But it’s fair to wonder if they’d also consider Woo, given his recent discomfort and Wednesday’s uneven outing.
“You always think ahead, and try to figure out what's going on,” Miller said. “But as far as I know, as far as I've been communicated, it was just that the bullpen was low, and the uncertainty with how Woo was going to feel was the main thing.
“If something happened in warmups with him, or if something happened in the first inning, and we had to cover eight or nine innings, the bullpen is not in a great spot for that. So, as far as I was told, that's what today was.”