Mariners Game #45 Preview: at San Diego

Vedder Cup Act III

Today’s pitching matchup doesn’t come with the fanfare that would acompany baseball’s biggest pitching names, but Bryan Woo v. Michael King absolutely belongs on a marquee. Among the 96 starters who’ve thrown at least 150 innings over the past two years, they rank number 9 and number 7, respectively by xERA, each the best in his respective division. By FIP-, they’re 17th and 18th. It’s a matchup befitting the pomp and grandeur of the Vedder Cup.

The formula for the Mariners’ victories in the first two games has been excellent starting pitching, the offense relying on the long ball, and a lock down bullpen. While it’s reasonable to expect the first piece from Woo, the other two may be harder to come by today. The offense has a tough task against King—for my money, he’s the most underrated starter in the game. Pivetta’s excellent too, but I’m unsurprised the Mariners were able to go yard , since that’s long been his biggest weakness. King doesn’t really have a weakness. As for the bullpen, the Mariners’ leverage arms are nigh unavailable, with Brash not doing back-to-backs yet in his early return from Tommy John surgery, and Speier and Munoz both having pitched in multiple innings last night.

Lineups

Cal Raleigh will get a day out of the crouch, with Garver donning the tools of ignorance today. Jorge Polanco and Ben Williamson both get the day off, as they did last Sunday. With the series win locked up at the start of a ten-game, no-off-day road trip, I’m all for doling out a little physical and mental break today. It’s the four-gamer against Houston at the end of this road trip that the team really needs to be going all out for.

The Dads mix things up a little too, with Jason Heyward out of the lineup and Jose Iglesias in.

Game Info

First pitch: 1:10 PT
TV: ROOT Sports
Radio: Ol’ Reliable

Today in Mariners History

• 1999: Edgar Martinez hits three home runs in a 10-1 victory over the Twins. Combined with his two homers in the game before, his five big flies in two games ties the MLB record.
• 2002: After a two-hour rain delay, Pedro Martinez opens the game with an immaculate inning against the Mariners.