The Mariners start their final series of the season tonight against the Dodgers. What looked like a potential clash with postseason implications back in April is now two teams with basically nothing to play
for, as the Dodgers are locked into the #3 seed in the NL and the Mariners have secured the #2 spot (with a very very outside chance at the #1 spot). Still, T-Mobile Park is sold out tonight, as it is for all three games, and a loud and raucous crowd will surely be in the building—many of them wearing Dodger Blue, as the other LA-area team will make their first visit to Seattle since 2023, when Kirby, Miller, and Gilbert were also the starters. The Mariners were swept in that series, failing to score more than three runs in any game while the pitching gave up six runs in each game. The Mariners were also swept by the Dodgers when they went to LA last year, the series that culminated in the firing of Scott Servais.
Lineups:
NOTE: There’s been a lineup change. Victor Robles is out and Dominic Canzone is in. Earlier, Robles was seen in the clubhouse talking to Dan Wilson while wearing an infrared heating pad over his shoulder, which seemed to be bothering him after a dive back to first base in the Rockies series.
News:
Dan Wilson announced that Sunday’s starter will be Bryce Miller. It’s unclear as of yet whether the Mariners will treat that as a regular start day for Miller or as an abbreviated outing in anticipation of a transition to the bullpen. Read the updated series preview here.
Also, in case you missed it, the news broke today that the Mariners plan to shut down ROOT Sports after this season. Read more here.
Game Information:
Game time: 6:40 PT
TV: ROOT Sports (RIP), with Aaron Goldsmith and Ryan Rowland-Smith. Jen Mueller will act as the sideline reporter, and I must demand that you treasure every word out of her mouth.
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.
Today in Mariners History:
- 1979 – Bruce Bochte’s first career grand slam lifted the Mariners to an 8-1 triumph over the Milwaukee Brewers.
- 1989 – The Mariners scored twice in the bottom of the 8th to pull out a 3-2 win vs. Cleveland. Scott Bradley tied the score at 2-2 with a pinch-hit RBI double and Henry Cotto put the Mariners up with a two-out single that scored pinch-runner Mike Kingery. Erik Hanson got the win and Mike Schooler picked up the save.
- 1995 – Andy Benes wins his seventh game for Seattle and the Mariners have a three-game lead in the AL West following the 10-2 victory vs. California.
- 2009 – Ichiro is ejected in the top of the 5th inning, the first and only time he is ejected in his professional career. After being called out on strikes, Ichiro backed away and then took a few steps back, stuck out his bat, leaned over the plate and drew a line in the dirt, indicating that he thought the pitch was outside.
- 2019 – Fitting for a day of finales: Félix Hernández pitches in his final game as a Seattle Mariner, going 5.1 innings and allowing 3 earned runs in a 3-1 loss to the Oakland Athletics. He exited to a lengthy standing ovation and was overcome by tears. This game also featured Dylan Moore’s incredible catch to strand the bases loaded.
