Can they sweep the Rangers twice in one season?
I’ve been more-or-less out on the 2024 Mariners since the five-game losing streak to the Tigers and Pirates in mid-August. And I still think they’re cooked. But I have nevertheless found myself scoreboard watching this weekend. FanGraphs still says the Mariners’ odds of making the playoffs are less than 10%, but close races tend to have wild swings in probability during the final week.
As a reminder, here’s where things stand:
Every team ahead of the Mariners has the tie-breaker over Seattle (except KC, which will probably have the tie-breaker).
- The Tigers are playing the Orioles, and had not announced who their starting pitcher would be until shortly before game time.
- After a rainout last night, the Twins have a doubleheader at Fenway today.
- The Royals face off against (sleeper agent?) Blake Snell and the Giants.
Lineups
Clocking in at 3:26, last night’s game was the longest of the year, including all the ones that went to extras. And now they have to turn right around and play a day game. So it’s not shocking to see Mitch Garver behind the plate, though they’re still getting Cal’s bat in the lineup at DH. Bryan Woo takes the hill for the Mariners, looking to bounce back from giving up seven runs to the Yankees on Tuesday.
Andrew Heaney will pitch for the Rangers. If it seems like the Mariners face him a lot, they do. Today will be his 24th start against Seattle, which accounts for more than an eighth of his career. The Mariners have tagged him for a 4.40 ERA in those games, which perfectly matches his career number.
News
- Either Luis Castillo is on the mend or the Mariners appear ready to play out the string on a four-man rotation, as Emerson Hancock has been optioned. That probably closes the book on his season, the first in which he saw extended time in the bigs, pitching 55 1⁄3 innings of 4.72-ERA ball. It was a decent showing from the sixth starter, and while the dropoff between the top five and Hancock is pretty big, I think we all feel pretty OK about his performance for a #6 starter.
- In a corresponding move, Gabe Speier has been recalled. It’s been a troubling season for him, but the Gabe Babes nonetheless rejoice at his returns.
Game Info
First pitch: 11:35 PT
TV: ROOT Sports (Sims and Hyphen)
Radio: ALERT, ALERT the Seahawks take over 710 today, so the Mariners will be broadcast on 770 (Rizzs and Goldy)
This Day in Mariners History
- 2021: Kyle Seager hits his final home run, his 35th of the season and, for the first and only time in his career, his 100th RBI. May the Mariners channel his Ranger-destroying energy this afternoon.