The Seattle Mariners are set to play the Cleveland Guardians, hoping to avoid dropping their first series of the season.
Emerson Hancock will make his season debut for Seattle.
Hancock Gets the Start for Seattle
Hancock gets the start as Bryce Miller is still getting stretched out after missing time in Spring Training. Oblique tightness had kept Miller sidelined.
Hancock lost his spot as the sixth starter last season to Logan Evans and was eventually relegated to the bullpen. With Evans out for the year with Tommy John surgery, Hancock returns to the rotation.
Three things to watch from Hancock tonight:
- Hancock gained some velocity on his fastball when he moved to the bullpen, and he kept most of the gain in three-inning outings this spring. Can he hold the added velo over a full start?
- He workshopped his sweeper over the winter and turned it into a pitch that was highly effective in Cactus League play. How effective is it against a legit lineup, and does he use it more than the three-or-so pitches per game he’s used in the past?
- He’s had to trade velocity for movement on his slider in years past. This spring, he was able to get both at the same time. Was that a fluke, and, if not, how effective is it now?
Cecconi to Pitch for Cleveland
The Guardians will send out Slade Cecconi, who was the centerpiece in the trade when the cash-strapped Guardians shipped out Josh Naylor to Arizona.
Cecconi is a junkballer who will throw a lot of off-speed at the Mariners to try to disguise his less-impressive heater. The Mariners’ hitters job will be to not chase after his curve and slider and try to get to the fastball.
Lineup and Injury Updates
J.P. Crawford remains with the team. Tacoma has an off day tomorrow and then returns home, so it’s likely he’ll head there on a rehab assignment this week while the team faces the Yankees. Carlos Vargas was in the building today, but no news on where he is in his return from injury. Tomorrow will be Justin Hollander’s weekly update, so look for more info then.
Prior to the game, the Guardians announced they have traded OF Johnathan Rodriguez to the Baltimore Orioles for minor league reliever RHP Carter Rustad.
How to Watch
The game will be broadcast on NBC Peacock. The broadcast cr
After a heartbreakingly close loss last night, the Mariners will look to avoid losing their first series of the season today against Cleveland.