The Mariners finally defeated their biggest nemesis of the season: they got to nine games over .500. It was one of those games that is weirder to experience than it is to look at in retrospect. Kirby’s early-inning struggles get papered over when you look at his final line of 6 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 9 K. The offense looks much more potent when you consider the game as a whole rather than that period in the middle where the White Sox bullpen retired ten in a row. And a two-run victory has a feeling of fiat accompli that does not capture the shakiness from Bazardo and Muñoz. I bring this up even though we have a proper recap just because I always find it interesting the way baseball works on the micro and macro levels no matter how big or small you make the units. Last night’s game was a three-hour lesson in taking the long view over the course of the season. After all, it ended with the Mariners getting to nine games over .500 and making up ground on Houston while creating further separation from Texas.

Anyway, today’s game. After seeing some classic 2020s White Sox pitching yesterday, today we’ll get their obligatory All-Star, Shane Smith. But he’s definitely an All-Star of the every fanbase gets a trophy variety. His 4.25 ERA is actually better than any of the four major ERA estimators. And the Mariners themselves touched him up for three runs over five when they faced him in May—with a lineup that featured Rowdy Tellez, Leody Taveras, Dylan Moore, and Ben Williamson. If writing out this information jinxed things, feel free to blame me. The Mariners will counter with Logan Gilbert, who completely lost his clock for an inning in each of his last two starts. Maybe that’ll work as a reverse jinx.

For Cal’s first non-catching day after the deadline, they rested Polanco with Cal at DH. Today, they’ll shuffle a little more with Polanco playing second base to free up the DH spot for Cal and Cole Young will get the day off. My best guess is that this is the alignment we’ll see more often, but I’m sure everyone will need days off during the stretch run.

First Pitch: 1:10 PT
TV: ROOT Sports
Radio: Old reliable

Today in Mariners History