If you’re interested in a little amuse bouche before tonight’s semi-final WBC game between the DR and US, the Mariners are playing an exhibition game against the Cincinnati reds this afternoon. George Kirby gets his third Cactus League start, where he’ll hope to round into cleaner form. Keep an eye on him between pitches to see how often he’s calling the game for himself, an innovation Kate dug into last week.
Facing off against him will be old friend Brandon Williamson, who was the headliner in the Mariners’ 2022 trade for Eugenio Suárez and Jesse Winker. Things haven’t gone great for him since the trade. He struggled with command problems, then sacrificed his whiffs to compensate. Then he got a bad case of the injury bug, with shoulder soreness and then TJ limiting him to just 30.2 total innings in 2024 and a goose egg in 2025. He’s looking to bounce back with a move to the bullpen, and his first seven innings this spring have been spectacular.
Randy Arozarena makes his first appearance since his totally uneventful with no news around him whatsoever turn in the WBC. Refsnyder gets another start, and Luke Raley will get a chance to face a southpaw. “Taylor” at first base is Carson Taylor, who the Mariners picked up in the minor-league portion of the Rule 5 Draft.
Quite a few regulars in Cincinnati’s lineup today, including Noelvi Marte, the centerpiece of the trade that brought Luis Castillo to Seattle. I also forgot Ke’Bryan Hayes had been traded to the Reds, which forced Marte to the outfield.
Michael Arroyo, Michael Rucker, and Ryan Sloan have been reassigned to minor league camp.
First pitch: 1:10 PT
TV: No television broadcast today.
Radio: Old Reliable