Know Your Enemy: Seattle Mariners

Welcome to what is sure to be a soggy weekend (if we get games in). Looks like Seattle very kindly brought a piece of him with them in the form of grey, rainy weather. Can you guys just bring coffee next time?

Before we begin, let’s check in with Senior Mascot Correspondent Addy for what she thinks of the moose:

Last Meeting

The White Sox went 2-1 during the three-game set in Seattle back in April. Yermín Mercedes was on his historic hitting streak, Yasmani Grandal hit his 150th career home run, and José Abreu hit his 200th career home run (in the form of a grand slam). We still had Luis Robert! And Nick Madrigal! Times were simpler then ... two months ago.

The final game of the series was a terrible one. The White Sox lost, 8-4, and the Mariners scored five runs in one inning (off of Matt Foster, who probably really hates the Mariners). This was also the game where Tony La Russa admitted that he left Foster in too long, which was plain to see to everyone watching the game. It also was only La Russa’s second big reliever gaffe of the season ... in his seventh game back as White Sox manager.

In the all-time series between the White Sox and Mariners, the White Sox lead, 243-210.

How’s it going?

Seattle’s five-game winning streak was brought to an end against the Rockies. Justus Sheffield has been having a rocky, home run-plagued season (sadly, we will not be facing him). He didn’t make it through five innings for the second time in three starts and started giving up home runs early. Don’t let that game in Colorado fool you, though. The Mariners are better than .500 this late in the season for the first time since 2018, which is pretty remarkable when you consider that among their 11 players on the IL are both Justin Dunn and Kyle Lewis. Some of their success has come from in receiving at least five innings from starting pitchers (they’re 33-17 in those games).

The Mariners are currently third in the tough AL West with a 39-37 record, 8 ¹⁄₂ back from first. They’re 15th overall in baseball and eighth in the AL. Seattle is 8-2 in their last 10 games, 18-12 in the last 30, and 10-12 against Central teams.

Pitching matchups

Today is going to see Carlos Rodón vs. Yusei Kikuchi. Rodón is 1-2 in his last seven starts, going 42 ²⁄₃ innings while giving up 30 hits, 61 strikeouts, and walking 13 while posting a 2.74 ERA. He’s 3-0 against Seattle in his career, posting a 1.50 while giving up 16 hits and striking out 28. Rodón is 6-2 with a 1.83 ERA so far this season, lasting 73 ²⁄₃ innings while striking out 105 and walking 20. He’s only given up six home runs and 42 hits. Kikuchi is 4-3 this season with 80 ²⁄₃ innings pitched and a 3.46 ERA. He’s managed to strikeout 81 and walk 26 while giving up 13 home runs and 58 hits. He’s 3-1 in his last seven and 0-1 against the White Sox in his career. His last outing against them was 2019, when he lasted 2 ¹⁄₃ innings allowing 10 hits, two home runs, and striking out one. Kikuchi throws a 4-seam (31.8%), cutter (40%), slider (19.8%), and changeup (8.4%).

Saturday is Lance Lynn vs. Logan Gilbert. Gilbert debuted on May 13 and is now 2-2, lasting 34 innings and allowing 30 hits, eight walks, five home runs, and striking out 36 while posting a 4.50 ERA. Gilbert’s having some trouble with his curve and has only been throwing it 10.3% of the time. The rest of his arsenal includes a 4-seam (59.5%), slider (24.7%), and changeup (5.5%). Lynn is 7-3 this season and 3-2 in his last seven starts. He’s posting a 2.14 ERA overall, lasting 75 ²⁄₃ innings while allowing 55 hits, walking 21, and striking out 86. In Lynn’s last five against Seattle he’s gone 3-1 over 32 innings, allowing 24 hits and striking out 37 with an ERA of 2.53.

Sunday is Dallas Keuchel vs. Marco Gonzales, for the close of the season series. Gonzales is 1-4 this season over 47 ²⁄₃ innings, allowing 47 hits and striking out 42 while walking 18 and giving up 47 hits. He’s 2-0 against the White Sox in his career, last seeing them in 2018 and going 12 ¹⁄₃ innings that year and posting a 1.46 ERA, striking out 14 and walking two. Gonzales has five pitches in his arsenal, a 4-seam (12%), sinker (37.3%), cutter (12.4%), changeup (18.8%), and curve (19.6%). He was on the IL for awhile with a left forearm strain but is back and not doing great. Keuchel is 4-1 in his last seven, lasting 37 ²⁄₃ innings and allowing 43 hits. He’s 6-2 this season with a 3.98 ERA and fanning 49 while going 81 ¹⁄₃ innings. He’s walked 26, given up 83 hits, and 44 runs so far. In his last five against Seattle he’s gone 1-2 and allowed 32 hits, 20 runs (19 earned), and striking out 16 while posting an ERA of 5.58.

Why we still hate them

Well people don’t really hate the Mariners that much. Mostly just that West Coast games suck because they’re so late.