The Seattle Mariners won two out of three games over the last week at home against both the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers. Both being key series since they are in the same division of the Mariners; also the fact that the Mariners continued having injuries happening in the pitching especially in the bullpen.
The Mariners ended up having two pitchers get hurt in the 11th inning of the loss against the Rangers on Friday. Jean Machi who came up earlier in the week left the game after complaining about his thumb. He is considered day to day and he was replaced by Evan Marshall who only threw two pitches and then was carried off the field with a hamstring. Not sure how long he will be out however he was added to disabled list.
The starting rotation the Mariners had to add James Paxton to the disabled list with Felix Hernandez already there along with Drew Smyly. Iwakuma had to leave his last outing with an injury however will make a start though he was pushed back a couple days. Yovani Gallardo is the only healthy pitcher the Mariners have left in the five-man rotation during spring training. Gallardo like most fifth starters has been inconsistent in his starts though he pitched well in his last start.
During the off-season general manager Jerry Dipoto made trades to add depth to the pitching which is a good thing that is for sure. During spring training the Mariners traded for Chase De Jong who they picked up from the Los Angeles Dodgers. A good thing since he pitched in place of Felix Hernandez in his last two outings. He started the season at Tacoma however came up and made a good outing in relief his first time going four innings and giving up only one hit. The Mariners brass felt he deserved to pitch in place of Felix however he had a bad outing in his first start but rebounded on Saturday to help the Mariners win the game.
Ariel Miranda who took the spot of Drew Smyly out of spring training has done a good job so far. The Mariners had sent him down to Tacoma to start the season however the injury to Smyly he was promoted right away. It was a good thing because he had pitched enough innings in spring training to be able to start games instead of going into the bullpen. He will be making his seventh start for the Mariners on Tuesday against the Phillies in Philadelphia and Yovani Gallardo should go on Wednesday before the Mariners go to play the Blue Jays in a four game series.
On Sunday the Mariners started Dillon Overton in place of James Paxton. He went three and a third innings giving up four hits and two runs with one being earned. He was replaced by Christian Bergman who they brought up that morning from Tacoma. Bergman had been a starter in Tacoma and having one of the best records in the Pacific Coast League. He went three and two thirds of an inning giving up one run on one hit and one walk along with striking out two. Overton and Bergman went seven innings before the Mariners went to main place in the bullpen. Nick Vincent came in the eighth inning getting two outs and giving up a hit along with striking out two. He was replaced by left handed specialist Marc Rzepczynski who got the final out striking out the one batter he faced. Closer Edwin Diaz finished off the game getting all three batters he faced including striking out two. With having Monday off the bullpen should have all the guys ready to pitch.
The Mariners are hoping that King Felix will be able to pitch next week when they return to Seattle. Also they hope that James Paxton will be able to pitch as well. They may have outfielder Mitch Haniger back next week as well.
If the Mariners can get healthy going into June and have their record stay around .500 they will be in good shape. You see in June the Mariners have a favorable schedule playing nineteen games at home while only seven on the road.
The first two games on the road are in Philadelphia being an inner-league games the Mariners will likely have Nelson Cruz playing in right field since there will be no designated hitter. We hope he takes it easy and doesn’t get hurt at all. Both series in Philadelphia and Toronto could go well for the Mariners since both teams are struggling. It would be nice if the Mariners could have a .500 record when they return to Safeco Field. Go M’s.
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