Mariners Game Notes — March 9 at Brewers (Spring #15)
HEY TJ MATHEWSON, AS YOU KNOW…Luis Castillo is making his third start of spring against the Milwaukee Brewers… allowing 3 runs, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts in his last two games, but…DID YOU KNOW?… Castillo has faced Milwaukee in 18 regular season games?… the second-most games played against an opponent in his career (most: St. Louis, 19 G)… La Piedra has held Milwaukee batters to a .194 (96x410) batting average… his 130 strikeouts against the Brewers is the most against a team in his career.
TODAY’S TILT…the Mariners continue 2024 Cactus League play today with a road game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field of Phoenix…they are set to face off in their first matchup of spring.
UPCOMING PROBABLE PITCHERS (subject to change)…
TODAY: Mariners at Brewers 12:10 PT/1:10 MT Seattle Sports (710 AM)
SEA — Castillo, VanScoter*, Muñoz, Speier*, Adcock
MIL — Peralta, Payamps, Megill, Koenig*, Myers
SUNDAY: Mariners vs. Giants 1:10 MT Seattle Sports (710 AM)
SF — Romero, J. Cruz, J. Sanchez*
SEA — Kirby, Perez, Thornton, Saucedo*, Buttrey, Kelley
MONDAY: Mariners vs. Padres 1:10 MT Seattle Sports (710 AM)
SDP — TBA
SEA — Gilbert, Stoudt, Voth, Vargas, Llovera, Snider, Krehbiel
* left-handed pitcher
ON THE AIR…today’s game will be broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr..
YESTERDAY’S GAME…Seattle fell to the Cubs by a score of 9–5 in Sloan Park yesterday afternoon…catcher Cal Raleigh blasted a 3-Run homer in the game…meanwhile, Ryan Bliss brings in his third run in his last two games… Luis Urias hit his first home run of spring.
AGAINST THE BREWERS…today marks the first of 2 games between the Mariners and Brewers this spring…overall, today marks the 139th all-time Cactus League matchup between Seattle and Milwaukee…the all-time series record is tied: 69–69–1.
SPRING BREAKOUT ROSTERS ANNOUNCED…the rosters for the inaugural “Spring Breakout Game”, set for March 15 against the Padres, were announced yesterday…Mariners roster was voted as the third best breakout roster by MLB Pipleline…the roster includes 21 of the Mariners’ top-30 prospects according to MLB.com, including each of their top-10 prospects: #1 INF Cole Young, #2 C Harry Ford, #3 INF Colt Emerson, #4 OF Lazaro Montes, #5 INF Felnin Celesten, #6 OF Jonny Farmelo, #7 INF Tai Peete, #8 INF Tyler Locklear, #9 INF Michael Arroyo and #10 OF Jonatan Clase. The 27-man roster features 9 pitchers (8 right-handed and 1 left-hander), 2 catchers, 10 infielders and 6 outfielders.
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.
FAMILIAR FACES AND IMPACT ADDITIONS…of the 40 players on Seattle’s Major League, 40-man roster, 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, Mauricio Llovera, Gregory Santos, Collin Snider, 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.
TOP PROSPECTS IN CAMP…MLB.com released their Mariners Top 30 list on Wednesday…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.
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.
SPRING BREAKDOWN…the Mariners have 19 remaining exhibition games in 2024 (17 in Arizona): 15 Cactus League games, 2 prospect games (Spring Breakout on March 15 vs. San Diego and March 23 vs. San Diego) and 2 games at San Diego on March 25–26…Seattle is set to play 18 total games at Peoria Stadium this spring.
