Bryan Woo emerged as a stabilizing force for Seattle in 2025, making a career-high 30 regular-season starts and leading the rotation with 186 2/3 innings during a year when multiple frontline arms dealt with injuries. He missed a little over a week at the end of the regular season with a pectoral strain but returned for the ALCS against Toronto, confirming his late-season availability.
Woo produced a 2.94 ERA and 0.93 WHIP, matching his 2024 run prevention while taking a clear step forward in bat-missing ability.
His strikeout rate jumped nearly six percentage points to 27.1%, while his 4.9% walk rate ranked fourth among qualified starters, reinforcing the strength of his command profile. Underlying indicators such as a 3.10 xERA and 3.33 xFIP suggest some favorable variance, but not enough to materially change his overall outlook heading into 2026.
The right-hander benefited from pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park with a 2.44 home ERA, yet his 3.40 road ERA shows he was capable of holding his own away from Seattle as well. The durability gains were almost as significant as the performance gains given his prior health history, and the combination of improved strikeout production, elite WHIP skills, and innings volume will elevate his value in points leagues.
Bryan Woo’s Strengths, Weaknesses, and 2026 Fantasy Baseball Projections
Woo’s strengths for points scoring include a low walk rate, above-average strikeout ability, efficient innings, favorable home environment, and a rotation role built for workload. His command foundation minimizes blow-up outings and keeps his WHIP among the best at the position, which translates efficiently in formats that reward innings and clean appearances.
The main weaknesses center on durability history and the possibility of modest ERA regression if underlying estimators prove more predictive than surface results in 2026.
For 2026, Woo projects for roughly 180 to 195 innings with a strikeout rate near 26% to 28%, a WHIP below 1.05, and an ERA in the low-3.00s. Even with minor regression baked in, the profile supports a strong weekly scoring floor thanks to volume, strikeouts, and command precision rather than reliance on matchup volatility.
As far as pitcher hierarchy for fantasy baseball points leagues, I rank him at Tier 2 under Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, and Paul Skenes, among others, and higher than Jacob deGrom, Cole Ragans, and Max Fried.
Bryan Woo Turns Down Team USA and Boosts His Fantasy Outlook for 2026
Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo is prioritizing long-term workload over international play, declining an invitation to pitch for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The decision aligns with his goal of pushing toward the 200-inning threshold in 2026 after a major step forward last season.
Woo, a former sixth-round pick out of Cal Poly in 2021, delivered a true breakout in 2025.
He finished 15-7 with a 2.94 ERA, 3.47 FIP, and 0.93 WHIP, while piling up a career-best 198 strikeouts against just 36 walks across 186 2/3 innings in 30 starts. Just as important as the production was the durability, as Woo finally completed a full starter’s workload after dealing with injuries earlier in his career.
Although he enters spring fully healthy, Seattle could still take a measured approach during Cactus League action. Even so, Woo clearly established himself as the rotation’s workload leader, pacing the staff in innings, strikeouts, WHIP, and ERA while posting a 128 ERA+. That combination places him firmly in the conversation to take the ball on Opening Day in 2026.
Pitching half his games at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park only strengthens the outlook. With skills trending upward and volume now part of the profile, Woo is quickly moving into the top tier of fantasy starting pitchers and should be viewed as a top-15 option entering 2026 drafts.
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