The most noticeable absence on opening day is shortstop J.P. Crawford, who was slowed in spring training by right shoulder inflammation. In his place, the Mariners are starting the switch-hitting Leo Rivas, who has played 91 major league games over the previous two seasons and had a few big moments<\/a> in 2025.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n With Crawford out, it cleared the way for Rivas to make the opening day roster for the first time in the 28 year old\u2019s career.<\/p>\n \u201cLeo is about as pro as it gets. You can rely on him to do anything you need,\u201d Dipoto said Thursday when he joined Seattle Sports\u2019 Bump and Stacy at T-Mobile Park.<\/p>\n With Crawford not expected to miss much time \u2013 both Dipoto and M\u2019s general manager Justin Hollander estimated he could be activated in a week or less \u2013 having Rivas and Cole Young available made filling the shortstop position a little easier on Seattle.<\/p>\n Mariners GM: When J.P. Crawford, Bryce Miller could be back<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe conversations around our opening day roster were really driven by how long we anticipated J.P. being out,\u201d Dipoto said. \u201cIf it was a longer stretch, we probably would have had a different roster construction. But with what is expected to be a short absence, we went with Leo, feeling like Leo, Cole Young \u2013 who is a shortstop by trade \u2013 (and) others on the roster could give us enough flexibility over a seven-game stretch to get us back to J.P. as opposed to doing more dramatic roster shifts that could create unintended consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n The other key player missing from Seattle\u2019s roster is starting pitcher Bryce Miller, who is recovering from oblique inflammation. With Miller sticking around at the Mariners\u2019 spring training complex in Arizona, former first-round MLB Draft pick Emerson Hancock takes over for the time being as Seattle\u2019s fifth starter.<\/p>\n Hancock, 26, has 31 starts and 37 total appearances for the Mariners dating back to 2023. While he\u2019s established as Seattle\u2019s sixth option for the five-man rotation, Dipoto was complimentary of how the lanky right-hander has looked of late.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt gives you great comfort when you\u2019ve got pros like Leo and Emerson. (Hancock) has been out there for the last couple of years contributing in big moments,\u201d Dipoto said. \u201cYou feel confident in his ability to go out there and hammer the strike zone. He had a very good spring, showed an improved breaking ball, more sustenance with his velocity. And again, just a grown-up that you can trust in those moments.\u201d<\/p>\n Hancock should get a handful of starts in before Miller is ready to return, as the Mariners estimate Miller will need roughly a month to get up to speed after being shut down for much of spring training.<\/p>\n More on the Seattle Mariners<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Everywhere to find Seattle Mariners TV and radio broadcasts this season<\/a>
\u2022 What makes this an important season for Logan Gilbert<\/a>
\u2022 ESPN\u2019s Jeff Passan picks M\u2019s to reach World Series, shares four reasons<\/a>
\u2022 The one question Passan has about the Seattle Mariners<\/a>
\u2022 Seattle Mariners unveil 2026 opening day roster, who\u2019s on IL <\/a><\/p>\n
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