The Seattle Mariners host the San Diego Padres at home on Friday to begin the second leg of the Vedder Cup series. Seattle aims to reverse their fortunes after suffering a series sweep during their previous matchups in San Diego.
To claim the rivalry tiebreaker, the Mariners must secure a home sweep to overcome the current run differential. San Diego currently leads that tiebreaking metric by a margin of 16-9, while Seattle holds a slight edge in average exit velocity at 88.8 to 88.6.
Right-handed pitchers Emerson Hancock and Randy Vásquez are scheduled to face each other again in the opening game. Both players have demonstrated significant improvement this season by substantially increasing their strikeout and whiff totals, according to reports published by FanGraphs.
The previous pitching matchup between the two starters saw Seattle score four runs against Vásquez. Hancock delivered a solid performance for the Mariners, but San Diego ultimately secured the victory after Seattle reliever Andrés Muñoz surrendered five runs in the final frame.
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Seattle will debut a modified batting lineup due to catcher Cal Raleigh being placed on the injured list. Outfielder Randy Arozarena slots into the cleanup position, while Jhonny Pereda enters the starting lineup to bat ninth and handle catching duties.