Mariners Game #145 Preview: San Diego at Seattle

The Vedder Cup rivalry moves to the Northwest

The Padres drop into town for a two-game set, because there’s nothing MLB loves more than trying to set these two teams up on a date despite them living at totally opposite ends of town. To me, tonight’s most interesting matchup will be watching the famously competitive George Kirby battle Luis Arraez, who is on a historic strikeoutless streak. I also hope some of the Mariners hitters will take note of Arraez’s two-strike approach, as he’s hitting .279 (!!!) in two-strike counts, which is about a hundred points better than anyone else in MLB.

Lineups:

As mentioned during the Oakland series, I will be fining other teams for using the SEA puns in their socials until everyone starts getting some new ideas. I know it’s late in the season and we’re all dragging but really now, this is a yearly meetup at this point, you don’t even really have the excuse of being in the NL and not getting to use this often.

News:

It’s the first game of the homestand, which means it’s time for Justin Hollander’s injury update. It’s fairly lengthy, which is to be expected at this point in the season.

• Luis Castillo has a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He’ll head to the 15-day IL, after which the team is hopeful he can make it back. He’ll have a PRP injection.
• No corresponding move for Castillo has been announced, but Ryan Bliss and Seby Zavala are both with the club today.
• Yimi García did not feel right after his last throwing session at the team complex in Arizona, and is being shut down from throwing entirely. He’ll visit with the team doctor this week.
• There’s better news regarding Gregory Santos, who has returned from Arizona and will continue to rehab with Tacoma.

Tonight’s game information:

Game time: 6:40 PT

TV: ROOT, with Dave Sims and Mike Blowers

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Aaron Goldsmith

Today in Mariners history:

• 1984: Alvin Davis hits his 25^th home run of the season to pace the Mariners to a 7-3 win over Texas in the Kingdome. 25 home runs sets a new record for a Mariners rookie.
• 1991: The Mariners beat the Blue Jays in Toronto, 5-4. The win snaps a 13-game road losing streak. They also turn a triple play in this game, the seventh in club history.
• 1995: Joey Cora’s RBI double in the eighth inning is the game winner in a 5-4 win that completes a three game sweep vs. Kansas City.
• 2008: J.J. Putz records his 99^th career save, passing Mike Schooler for second on the Mariners all-time list.
• 2015: Nelson Cruz hits his 40th home run of the season in the Mariners 5-0 win over Texas. Cruz is just the fourth player in Mariners history with a forty home run season.
• 2019: Kyle Lewis’s first MLB hit is a home run against Cincinnati.