Mariners Game #19 Preview: 4/17 at Cincinnati

Take a nine-inning brunch

I guess the Mariners brass listens to Meet at the Mitt because they are executing on my proposal for Operation Surprise Starter. Bryan Woo was supposed to pitch today—the Mariners made a whole big thing about shuffling their rotation so that the fifth starter spot wouldn’t come up in Cincinnati. But then late last night they announced that surprise! it’ll actually be Emerson Hancock pitching today. In reality, I very much doubt that this was an effort to make it harder for the Reds to prepare, thus compensating for the disadvantage of having to start a pitcher who’s a level (or three) below the other four. Still might work though.

But if it doesn’t work, my next proposal for stopgapping the Mariners rotation until George Kirby gets back is to give a shot to 2024 draftee Ryan Sloan. You say he’s only got 4.2 innings of pro ball under his belt, with a 5.79 ERA in Everett. I say look at this filth:

The Reds will turn to off-season acquisition Brady Singer, who has historically had the Mariners number when pitching for Kansas City.

Lineups

Ben Williamson gets the afternoon off after collecting two hits in his first two games, and we’ll see Master Boney at the hot corner instead. Cal will catch the day game after a night game, having rested his knees with an off day Monday and DHing on Tuesday. The Reds, by contrast, will take their platinum-gloved backstop out of the lineup today, using backup Austin Wynns instead of Jose Trivino. At least Brady Singer won’t get the help of all those stolen strikes.

News

To open the spot for Hancock, Will Klein has been sent back to Tacoma.

Game Info

First pitch: 9:40 am PT
TV: ROOT Sports or the ROOT Sports App
Radio: 710 ol’ reliable

Today in Mariners History

• 2012: The Mariners’ 50,000th hit (Seager, obvi) and 25,000th run scored (Justin Smoak, apparently) help the Mariners get out to an 8-1 lead over Cleveland, but Kevin Millwood blows it and Seattle loses 9-8
• 2013: The possibilities of Felix v. Scherzer entice, and they both deliver with 12 strikouts a piece. But then the Mariners and Tigers go on to combine for another 16, for a total of 40 strikeouts over 14 innings. The teams end up just three short of the strikeout record set by the Angels and A’s, though they needed 20 innings to do it. The game ends 2-1 when Justin Smoak is tagged out at home plate.