SEATTLE (AP) — Bryan Woo keeps going deep in games for the Seattle Mariners, and isn't giving up many free passes along the way.
While extending his season-opening franchise record with his 23rd consecutive start pitching at least six innings Sunday in a 6-3 win over Tampa Bay, Woo also tied the MLB record set by Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal in 1968 for the most consecutive games at the start of the season pitching that long and also allowing two walks or fewer.
Woo (10-6) matched his career high of nine strikeouts for the second game in a row, and walked only one in six innings against the Rays, finishing his outing with an empathic fist pump after striking out his final batter. It was his 45th consecutive start with two walks or fewer, the longest active streak in the majors.
The 25-year-old right-hander is the first MLB pitcher since Clayton Kershaw in 2019 throw at least six innings in the first 23 starts of a season.
Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson and Mark Langston share Seattle's overall record for consecutive six-inning starts at 31. Johnson had his from August 1992 until July 1993, which included the first 20 games of 1993 that was the previous season-opening mark. Langston's 31-game stretch was from July 1987 to June 1988.
Félix Hernández had a 30-game stretch from May 2010 to April 2011, and Johnson recorded another 29-game span from May 1995 to April 1996.
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Seattle Mariners catcher Mitch Garver, left, talks with starting pitcher Bryan Woo, right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo reacts to retiring the side against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo throws against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Powerball drew the winning lottery numbers Monday night for a record 46th time since its last jackpot was claimed, as a string of failed sweepstakes ballooned the top prize to $1.6 billion.
The numbers selected were 3, 18, 36, 41, 54 and the Powerball 7.
So far, it's the 5th-largest jackpot in U.S. history after more than three months without a Powerball winner. The game's long odds created a massive windfall that has enticed people to splurge on $2 tickets ahead of the live drawing at 10:59 p.m. ET Monday night.
Lottery officials made the odds tougher in 2015 to create these humongous jackpots and draw more attention, while also making it easier to win smaller prizes.
Experts say it’s a sign the lottery is operating exactly as designed, and that no one should really expect to match all six numbers and make a killing. Still, somebody will likely win at some point, and many players are hoping to be that lucky winner.
“Everybody wants to be a millionaire,” said Saqi Anwer, an Atlanta gas station manager who sold $800 worth of tickets on Saturday.
Monday's estimated $1.6 billion jackpot has a cash value of $735.3 million.
That means a winner can choose to be paid the whole amount through an annuity, with an immediate payment and then annual payments over 29 years that increase by 5% each time. Winners almost always opt for the up-front cash value, however both eye-popping figures are before taxes.
The last time someone won the Powerball top prize was on Sept. 6, when players in Missouri and Texas won $1.787 billion — the second-highest jackpot in U.S. history.
Matt Strawn, who chairs the Powerball Product Group, said in an interview that nothing special predated back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots this year other than the odds of the game. Still, he said it would be magical for a winning ticket to be cashed in during the holidays.
“Imagine if someone is giving the gift of a winning Powerball ticket away, whether it’s in a stocking or a thank-you note to your mail carrier,” Strawn said.
Monday’s potential bounty now tops the existing 5th-biggest jackpot of a $1.586 billion drawn on Jan. 13, 2016.
Four other jackpots, all from the past three years, have bested the current prize. The biggest U.S. jackpot ever was $2.04 billion back in 2022.
That lotto winner bought the ticket at a Los Angeles-area gas station and opted for a lump-sum payment of $997.6 million.
In Atlanta on Sunday, players were lining up to get their tickets ahead of Monday's drawing.
“My wife encourages me to buy a ticket because she wants to go on a big trip and she wants to do something good in society,” Bob Wehner said outside a car wash. “And she thought, ‘Well, we can do both if we win, for crying out loud!’”
Ronan Farrell, a middle schooler, speculated about buying an Xbox and a Lamborghini if his family won.
“With an Xbox controller as well,” he added.
The odds of winning Monday’s jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, according to Powerball. Before the switch a decade ago, the odds were 1 in 175 million. Players now have a 1 in 24.9 chance overall of winning some kind of prize.
Tim Chartier, a Davidson College math professor, said he's never bought a lottery ticket despite knowing those odds inside and out.
“Picking a winning lottery ticket is equivalent to selecting one marked dollar bill from a stack 19 miles high — roughly the height of more than 115 Statues of Liberty,” or 30 kilometers, Chartier said.
“If you have the funds and you enjoy dreaming about a billionaire life, enjoy the ride. Of course, you could win,” Chartier said. “But when the numbers don’t fall your way, recognize that the odds were never in your favor — and that the twinkle of possibility is what made the journey worth the almost-certain letdown.”
Associated Press videojournalist Emilie Megnien in Atlanta contributed to this report.
Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
A billboard advertising the Powerball lottery is displayed, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
A customer fills out a Powerball lottery ticket at a convenience store in Mundelein, Ill., Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
A Powerball play slip is seen at a store Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
