Mariners Game Notes — April 20 at Colorado
AS YOU MAY KNOW…over the Mariners last 7 games (4/10-c), the starting rotation is 4–2 with a 1.81 ERA (9 ER, 44.2 IP) with 6 walks, 44 strikeouts and has tossed quality starts in each of those 7 games: Logan Gilbert (2), Bryce Miller (2), Emerson Hancock, Luis Castillo and George Kirby, but…DID YOU KNOW?…it marks the first time Seattle has recorded quality starts in 7+ consecutive games since May 19–25, 2023 when Miller (2), Gilbert (2), Kirby, Castillo and Marco Gonzales recorded quality starts in 7 consecutive games?…if Seattle records a quality start in its next outing, it will mark the first time Seattle has recorded quality starts in 8+ consecutive games since June 2–10, 2015 when Mike Montgomery (2), Taijuan Walker (2), Roenis Elías (2), J.A. Happ and Félix Hernández recorded quality starts in 8 consecutive games.
TONIGHT’S TILT…the Mariners begin a 6-game road trip tonight with the first of 3 games against the Colorado Rockies…last night’s series opener was postponed due to rain/snow and will be made up in a split doubleheader (1:10 pm MT/6:10 pm MT) tomorrow…Seattle will also face the Texas Rangers (3 G, 4/23–4/25) on the road trip…the Mariners are coming off a 6-game homestand (4–2), facing the Chicago Cubs (1–2) and sweeping the Cincinnati Reds (3–0)…tonight’s game is televised live on ROOT SPORTS with Aaron Goldsmith and Mike Blowers on the call…the game is broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) with Rick Rizzs and Dave Sims.
ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners completed their sweep of the Reds on Wednesday, winning 5–1…Seattle has won 3 consecutive games and is 5–2 over their last 7 games…the Mariners have won each of their last 2 series openers (4/12 vs. CHC; 4/15 vs. CIN).
Get On The Board First — Seattle is 8–1 record when scoring first in games this season…the Mariners win on April 17 vs. the Reds marked their first comeback win so far in 2024.
Young Hurlers — Mariners pitchers’ average age (28.0) ranks T3rd-youngest in MLB (weighted by number of innings thrown)…only Miami (27.0), San Francisco (27.1) are younger.
STRONG WEEK OF PITCHING…the Mariners pitching staff over the last 7 games (4/10-c) is 5–2 with 2 saves and a 1.83 ERA (13 ER, 64.0 IP) with 11 walks and 68 strikeouts…Seattle leads MLB in ERA and fewest runs allowed (15) during that stretch…Seattle pitching also leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.161/36x223), WHIP (0.73), walks-per-9 innings (1.55), hits-per-9 innings (5.06) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.18) since April 10.
CAL THE COMPLETE CATCHER…Cal Raleigh went 1-for-2 with his 3rd home run of the season on Wednesday, also drawing 2 walks…the 27-year-old catcher leads the Mariners in bWAR (0.9) this year…Raleigh leads the Majors in defensive runs saved (7) regardless of position and has registered 5 catcher caught stealings, tied for most in MLB this season with Alejandro Kirk-TOR and Shea Langeliers-OAK.
NEED FOR SPEED…Mariners pitchers lead the Majors with the highest average fastball velocity (94.6 mph), ranking ahead of the Marlins (93.9) and Dodgers (93.8) per Baseball Savant…this mark includes all fastballs (4-seam, 2-seam, cutter)…Seattle has allowed a .240 batting average (86x359) on fastballs, 5th-lowest mark in the Majors…when including all pitch types, Seattle averages 90.4 mph per pitch tied with the Yankees for fastest in the Majors.
HOT BATS…during the Mariners 3-game sweep over the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle hit .266 (25x94) with 17 runs, including a season-high 9 in Monday’s series opener…Seattle recorded 13 extra-base hits (6 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs) and 20 walks, posting a .397 on-base percentage, .532 slugging and .929 OPS…Mitch Haniger hit .417 (5x12) with a double, homer and 5 RBI during the series…Julio Rodríguez hit .357 (5x14) with 2 doubles during the series…Josh Rojas hit .333 (3x9) with a double and homer during the series…Cal Raleigh hit .286 (2x7) with a home run, 2 RBI and 5 walks (1.298 OPS) during the series.
BULLPEN BRILLIANCE…the Mariners bullpen is 2–1 and 5-for-5 in save opportunities, posting a 2.93 ERA (20 ER, 61.1 IP) with 23 walks and 63 strikeouts through 19 games this season…Seattle’s 2.93 bullpen ERA ranks 8th in the Majors, while its .184 opponent batting average ranks 2nd in the Majors…Seattle’s relief corps ranks 2nd in MLB in WHIP (1.03) and 2nd in hits-per-9 innings (5.87).
I CAN MITCH ’CAUSE I’M BETTER THAN YOU…in 18 games this season, Mitch Haniger is batting .292 (19x65) with 10 runs, 3 doubles, 3 home runs, 13 RBI and 8 walks, getting on base at a .370 clip, slugging .477 with an .847 OPS and 31 total bases…Haniger has reached base safely in 16 of 18 games this season, hitting safely in 15 of 18.
THE KEYSTONE…Jorge Polanco has posted an .827 OPS over his last 11 games (4/6-c)…the Mariners second baseman has drawn 11 walks during that span with 3 home runs and 8 RBI…Polanco has drawn 11 walks over his last 9 games (4/8-c), 3rd in MLB during that span, trailing only Christian Walker-ARI (13) and Kyle Tucker-HOU (12).
KEEPING IT CLASE…outfielder Jonatan Clase has reached base safely via hit or walk in each of his first 3 Major League games (4/15-c)…he recorded his first career stolen base in his last game (4/17 vs. CIN)…Clase is the first Mariners player to reach base in each of his first 3+ career games since José Caballero last season (reached safely in first 4 career games), who coincidentally made his MLB debut (April 15, 2023) exactly 1 year before Clase.
Muñoz Mania…Andrés Muñoz is 1–1 with 2 saves and a 2.45 ERA (2 ER, 7.1 IP) with 11 strikeouts…three of his 7 appearances have been 1.1 IP or longer, matching his total from all of last season…in his Mariners career, Muñoz has posted 12.9 strikeouts-per-9 innings, 2nd-best in franchise history (min. 120.0 IP) and trailing only Edwin Díaz (14.2 SO/9)…current Mariners Matt Brash (3rd, 12.5) and Luis Castillo (7th, 10.2) rank among the top 10, while current Mariners Assistant Pitching Coach and Major League Pitching Strategist Danny Farquhar ranks 6th (10.5).
TWO MARINERS AWAY FROM 1,000 ALL-TIME…the Mariners have had 998 all-time players appear in a game for the franchise…INF/OF Samad Taylor, C Seby Zavala, RHP Collin Snider, RHP Ryne Stanek, RHP Cody Bolton, DH/C Mitch Garver, INF Jorge Polanco, OF Luke Raley, INF Luis Urías, RHP Austin Voth, RHP Tyson Miller, RHP Brett de Geus and OF Jonatan Clase have all made their team debuts this season.
NEXT HOMESTAND…the Mariners 3rd homestand of 2024 welcomes the Arizona Diamondbacks (3 G, 4/26–4/28) and Atlanta Braves (3 G, 4/29–5/1) to T-Mobile Park…the homestand features Mariners Turn Ahead The Clock Jersey Night (April 26), ’90s Night — Mariners Neon Hat (April 27), Little League Day — Cal Raleigh Poster (April 28), the first Bark at the Park of the season (April 29), and Value Games on April 30 and May 1.
Mariners Game Notes — April 20 at Colorado was originally published in From the Corner of Edgar & Dave on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.