Mariners Game Notes— March 18 at Rangers (Spring #24)
HEY GARY HILL JR., AS YOU KNOW…the Mariners will play their last game against a division rival this spring in today’s game against Texas, but…DID YOU KNOW?…that the Mariners will play 22 regular season games before playing a division opponent this season?…the Mariners will open division play on April 23–25 at Globe Life Field against the Texas Ranger, and…DID YOU ALSO KNOW?…that the Mariners won’t play a road game in the Pacific time zone until June 4, their 62nd game of the season?
TODAY’S TILT…the Mariners continue 2024 Cactus League play today against the Texas Rangers…today’s game is the 2nd of two matchups between the clubs this spring…the Mariners and Rangers will meet for the first time in the upcoming regular season from April 23–25 in a 3-game series at Globe Life Field.
UPCOMING PROBABLE PITCHERS (subject to change)…
TODAY: Mariners at Rangers 1:05 pm PT Seattle Sports (710 AM)
SEA — T. Miller, Stanek, de Geus, Krehbiel
TEX — Adrian Sampson, Jake Latz*, Shane Greene, Austin Pruitt, Jesus Tinoco
TUESDAY: Mariners vs. Rockies 1:10 pm PT Seattle Sports (710 AM)
COL — TBA
SEA — Lawrence, Muñoz, Speier*, Voth, Bolton, Vargas
* left-handed pitcher
READY TO “ROCK” OPENING DAY…Luis Castillo was named the Mariners Opening Day starter today, and is set to make his 4th career and 2nd-consecutive Opening Day start…“La Piedra” is set to become the 10th pitcher in Mariners history to make multiple Opening Day starts with the club…in last year’s season-opener, Castillo blanked the Guardians on 1 hit over 6.0 innings, becoming the first pitcher in franchise history to hold the opponent scoreless over at least 6.0 innings while allowing 1-or-fewer hits.
LATELY…after a 1–9–1 start to Cactus League play the Mariners have won 8 of their last 12 games, including winning 4-consecutive games before yesterday’s loss…during that span, the Mariners have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 73–58.
YESTERDAY’S GAME…Seattle lost yesterday’s game 5–4 against the Arizona Diamondbacks…Logan Gilbert tossed 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing just 3 hits and striking out 7…Samad Taylor (1x2, 2 R, 2B, BB, SO, SB) and Ty France (1x2, 2B) each registered extra-base hits…Collin Snider (1.2 IP, SO) and Trent Thornton (1.0 IP) each tossed scoreless outings.
ON THE AIR…today’s game at Surprise Stadium will be broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) with Aaron Goldsmith and Gary Hill Jr. on the call…the Rangers television broadcast will be available via MLB.TV.
FIREPOWER…the Mariners have scored 139 runs this spring, the most in the Cactus League and trailing only Toronto (144 R) in the Grapefruit League…Seattle ranks ahead of Colorado (133 R) and Oakland (131 R) in the Cactus League…Seattle’s 31 home runs this spring are 2nd-most in the Cactus League, trailing only Chicago-NL (36 HR).
VS. RANGERS…today marks the Mariners 2nd of two matchups against the Rangers this spring…the Mariners previously played Texas on March 5 in the home leg of a split-squad matchup, losing 9–10…the Mariners are 32–16–3 all-time against the Rangers in Spring Training.
THE COACHING STAFF…manager Scott Servais enters his 9th season as Seattle’s skipper…returning to the Major League staff are Third Base Coach Manny Acta, Major League Coach & Director of Pitching Strategy Trent Blank, Hitting Coach & Director of Hitting Strategy Jarret DeHart, Infield Coach Perry Hill, First Base Coach Kristopher Negrón, Major League Field Coordinator Carson Vitale and Pitching Coach Pete Woodworth…additionally, Tony Arnerich transitions to Bullpen Coach…the Mariners added 3 coaches to their big-league staff: Bench Coach & Offensive Coordinator Brant Brown, Major League Pitching Strategist and Asst. Pitching Coach Danny Farquhar and Asst. Hitting Coach Tommy Joseph.
TOP PROSPECTS IN CAMP…three of the Mariners top-5 prospects according to Baseball America have been in Major League camp: infielder Cole Young (#1 Mariners prospect, #44 in MLB), catcher Harry Ford (#2 Mariners, #51 MLB) and infielder Tyler Locklear (#5 Mariners)…in addition to the 3 in the top-5, right-hander Emerson Hancock (#9), outfielder Jonatan Clase (#10), infielder Ryan Bliss (#14), outfielder Alberto Rodriguez (#17), outfielder Spencer Packard (#20), infielder Brock Rodden (#22), right-hander Jimmy Joyce (#23), infielder Hogan Windish (#24), left-hander Reid VanScoter (#27) and right-hander Carlos Vargas (#30) round out the 13 players in Seattle’s top-30 (Baseball America) who have been in MLB camp.
FAMILIAR FACES AND IMPACT ADDITIONS…of the 40 players on Seattle’s Major League, 40-man roster and 60-day Injured List (39+1 60-day IL), 24 spent time in the Mariners organization in 2023…of the 16 newcomers, 14 are new to the organization while outfielder Mitch Haniger and right-hander Levi Stoudt return to the Mariners…of the 24 returnees from last season (13 pitchers + 11 position players), all but one (outfielder Jonatan Clase) appeared in the Majors with Seattle last season…the 14 players completely new to the organization include 7 pitchers: Cody Bolton, Jackson Kowar, Gregory Santos, Collin Snider, Ryne Stanek, Carlos Vargas and Austin Voth, and 7 position players: catchers Blake Hunt and Seby Zavala; infielders Jorge Polanco and Luis Urías; infielder/outfielders Luke Raley and Samad Taylor; and designated hitter/catcher Mitch Garver.
OPENING MONTH OF THE SEASON…the Mariners will open the 2024 regular season at T-Mobile Park, with Opening Day against the Boston Red Sox on March 28…promotions during the first month of the season include 3 consecutive Julio Rodríguez “No Fly Zone” Bobblehead Nights from April 1–3 vs. Cleveland, with bobbleheads going to the first 10,000 fans each game…“Mariners Hoodie Night” on April 12 vs. the Cubs…“Salute To Armed Forces Night — Mariners Cap” on April 13 vs. the Cubs…3 consecutive Ken Griffey Jr. “Home Run Robbery” Bobblehead Nights from April 15–17 vs. Cincinnati…other promotions include “Mariners Turn Ahead The Clock Jersey Night” on April 26 vs. Arizona, “90s Night — Mariners Neon Hat Night” on April 27 vs. Arizona, 2 Little League Days (April 14 & 28), Jackie Robinson Day on April 15 and “Bark at the Park” on April 29 vs. Atlanta.
OPENING WEEK WARM-UP…the Mariners will host the Opening Week Warm-Up presented by Starbucks on March 24 at T-Mobile Park, where fans will be able to take over the ballpark with behind-the-scenes access, plus get a front row seat to watch the Mariners take on the Chicago Cubs in Cactus League action on MarinersVision…for more information visit Mariners.com/WarmUp.
