The Seattle Mariners’ nine-game road trip hasn’t started well.
They lost 15-1 to Detroit on Tuesday before blowing a two-run lead and losing 3-2 in extra innings on Wednesday. Furthermore, Julio Rodriguez worsened the high ankle strain that forced him to the disabled list last month.
The last game of the series will be played Thursday afternoon.
Rodriguez, who was activated on Sunday, injured his ankle in the seventh inning. Before being replaced by a pinch runner, he hit an RBI bloop single with the bases loaded.
It was a scare that the Mariners, who are battling to catch the Houston Astros in the American League West, did not need.
Manager Scott Servais stated after the game that Rodriguez is unlikely to be out for long.
“It’s not swollen or anything like that,” Servais explained. “It’s more of a scar tissue situation. He lives day-to-day. We will see how he is tomorrow. I believe it worried him more than anything because he felt something.”
Bryce Miller (9-7, 3.46 ERA), who is expected to start the series finale for the Mariners, has held opponents scoreless in three of his last five outings. Miller blanked the New York Mets for six innings, allowing only three hits and one walk while striking out six in a 6-0 victory last Friday.
“It’s great to see a young pitcher like that at this time in the season have so much in the tank because we’ve got so many big games ahead of us,” says Servais.
Miller held Detroit scoreless for 12 innings in a pair of starts against them as a rookie last season, winning both games.
Last season, Miller leaned heavily on his fastball. Last week, he combined his four-seamer with sinkers, sliders, splitters, knuckle curveballs, sweepers, and cutters to defeat the Mets.
“Last year, I was getting fatigued at this point,” Miller told me. “Last year, the fastball was my pitch. So, if that’s my pitch, and I’m tired, it’s as if everything is a little off. But I feel like I’m becoming better and stronger as the year progresses.
His curveball has been particularly effective at keeping hitters off balance.
“He’s got another pitch that he can tunnel off his fastball,” according to Servais. “The pitch’s velocity and depth are causing some pursuit below the zone. It’s truly worked well for him. He should continue to toss it.”
The Tigers’ right-hander, Alex Faedo (5-3, 3.62), is set to start the afternoon.
He has made one career start versus Seattle, losing 5-0 on May 13, 2023. He allowed three runs on four hits and one walk in six innings, striking out seven.
Detroit has won three straight games, with Kerry Carpenter playing a key role against the Mariners. Carpenter has hit three home runs after being activated from the 60-day injured list prior of Tuesday’s game. He tied the game on Wednesday in the ninth with a two-run drive off reliever Yimi Garcia.
Prior to it, Seattle starter Bryan Woo had struck Carpenter out three times.
“I go up there pretty confident, whether I’m hitting two home runs or striking out in my first couple of at-bats,” said Carpenter, who had been sidelined by a back issue. “I’ve fought Yimi Garcia before. I’ve seen some of his work. “He missed one pitch, and I capitalized.”
A.J. Hinch is overjoyed to see Carpenter’s name on his lineup card again.
“He’s one swing away from impact, whenever it is — early, late, starting, off the bench — you have to manage against him,” Hinch pointed out. “He got a hanging pitch and changed the whole face of the game.”
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