THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Without Woo, M's might need more mo

This series could be a tale of two pitchers.

They’re the best each team has to offer.

Exactly when Tarik Skubal or Bryan Woo will stride onto the mound in the ALDS, however, is a mystery.

Let’s start with the puzzle at home, where Woo is rehabbing from an inflamed pectoral muscle.

Woo did some legit pitching on Thursday, but the Mariners’ wording can fool you.

The club announced that Woo pitched a “simulated game” during the team’s workout at T-Mobile Park.

When you hear that phrase, it’s easy to imagine that Woo fired fastballs at a couple dozen hitters.

From that progress, you could easily assume that Woo will be healthy enough — and have built back enough strength — to face Detroit sometime in the ALDS.

With the ALDS starting Saturday in Seattle, you might be thinking that Woo could take the ball for the third game (next Tuesday in Detroit).

Unfortunately, that “simulated game” involved just 25 warmup pitches and just 15 thrown at hitters.

So, your dream of Woo being ready to overwhelm the Tigers — perhaps beating Skubal head-to-head — might be a VERY long shot.

IT’S NOT impossible that Woo could play a major role in the Mariners’ postseason, but I’m thinking that a start against the Tigers (with normal velocity and command) would be a dream.

Seattle may have to reach the next round — and a shot at the franchise’s first World Series — with Woo as a spectator.

For what it’s worth, the Mariners are a rare club that actually could pull it off.

Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo and George Kirby are front-line starters, and Bryce Miller — another talented starter just now returning from the injury list — are good enough to fill the gaps.

Missing Woo obviously isn’t ideal, but it’s not the end of the world, either.

That brings us to the tale of Skubal, who is about to win another Cy Young Award after blowing away almost everyone he faced in 2025.

Skubal’s numbers for the 2025 regular season look like some kid invented them for a fantasy game.

The lefty from Seattle University had a 2.21 ERA, but that’s nothing compared to his 241 strikeouts against just 33 walks.

That’s stuff from another universe.

Skubal’s brilliance brings to mind a quote from legendary football coach Paul Brown, who was once asked if his Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown was in a class all his own.

“All I know about that class is that it wouldn’t take long to call roll,” the coach replied.

Tarik Skubal is likewise in a VERY small class.

Unlike the Mariners, however, Detroit cannot open a box of terrific backup aces if Skubal is sitting on the sidelines.

Jack Flaherty (8-15, 4.64 ERA) started as many games (31) as Skubal as the Tigers staggered down the stretch.

Detroit even gave nine starts to 41-year-old Charlie Morton, who finished the season with Atlanta.

Bottom line: Beyond Skubal, the Tigers’ rotation has very little business in a playoff series.

UNLIKE THE question of Woo’s health, Skubal’s issues seem minor.

But it’s not all smooth sailing right now, either.

The Tigers needed Skubal for the wild-card series opener against Cleveland — which he won 2-1 — and that means there might be some question about his availability to pitch twice in this ALDS.

With the series starting Saturday, Skubal theoretically could pitch Games No. 2 and 5 with four days’ rest each time.

That’s cutting it pretty close, though, in a situation where managers sometimes don’t have the luxury of waiting for the right matchup.

Would the Tigers toss Skubal into battle if they were down two games to one heading into Game No. 4?

That would be two days’ rest (there’s an off day between Games 4 and 5), so Skubal likely would only be used in relief.

Oh, and for what it’s worth, two of Skubal’s rare hiccups this season have come against the Mariners.

It’s not like they’ve lit him up, exactly, but Seattle hitters have had more success against Tarik’s deadly changeup than anyone else.

On April 2, the Mariners won 3-2, and Skubal went just 5 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits, with eight strikeouts and three walks.

Skubal didn’t lose again until July 11, when the Mariners nicked him for four runs in five innings — including a two-run homer by Julio Rodriguez — and went on to wax the Tigers 12-3.

That was part of a three-game sweep leading into the All-Star break.

It gave the Mariners momentum that they’ve carried all the way to the postseason.

Now here’s Tarik again, trying to spoil the party.

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Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press three times each week, normally Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”