Mariners Game #30 Preview: 4/30, ANA @ SEA

Shooting for the record books

If the Mariners can win today, it would take them to 18-12, which would make for the best March/April in the Dipoto Era. Just about everything’s clicking for the Mariners right now. But not the injury bug. Luke Raley was a late scratch yesterday after tweaking his side during batting practice, and today he’s been sent to the injured list for what is expected to be an extended stay (details below). He’ll join several other Mariners on the IL: Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Victor Robles, Dylan Moore, Gregory Santos, Ryan Bliss, along with 2024 holdovers Matt Brash and Jackson Kowar, and Dominic Canzone who is hurt but not on the IL. It’s hardly the worst injury situation in MLB, especially given how quickly some of those guys are expected back, but it’s not what you want to see.

With Robles, Raley, DMo, Canzone, and Cade Marlowe already on the IL, the Mariners will scavenge their outfield depth chart and call up Rhylan Thomas. Thomas, a lefty outfielder who came over from the Mets in last year’s trade of Ryne Stanek, was hitting well in in the minors, but petered out upon reaching AAA. He has yet to see MLB action, so we may get to see yet another debut. To make room for Thomas on the 40-man, Sauryn Lao has been DFAed.

Lineups

Speaking of debuts, Samad Taylor will make his 2025 debut—hoping to continue the success from his having quietly changed his approach down at AAA—and J.P. Crawford will make his 2025 debut in the leadoff spot.

The Mariners will face old friend Tyler Anderson, unofficial winner of 2021’s Wade LeBlanc Award for a starter who came in to stabilize a rotation midseason. The journeyman lefty is one of the game’s more extreme fly-ball pitchers, which may counterbalance the Mariners’ righties’ tendency to hit the ball on the ground.

Hancock will go for Seattle, hoping to build on the best outing of his young career.

Game Info

First pitch: 1:10 PT
TV: ROOT
Radio: Ol’ reliable

News:

Justin Hollander met with the media pregame to give some injury details. Luke Raley’s oblique strain is a Grade 1, meaning six weeks down minimum before he resumes baseball activities. In better news, Dylan Moore is feeling much better and should be able to be activated as soon as he’s eligible to come off the IL in about a week. In even better news, Hollander said watching George Kirby throw his live bullpen the other day in a near-empty ballpark gave him 2020 Covid-year flashbacks, in a good way; Kirby looked “nasty” and “fantastic” and should be able to start a rehab assignment as soon as this weekend. And in bestest news, Matt Brash has had two outings in three days with Tacoma, both of which went well, and if he’s feeling good, could be activated as soon as this weekend.

Captain’s Log

Dan Wilson on Luke Raley’s injury: “Luke is a guy that gives you 100% every day when he goes out there. He’s a hard worker. He plays an outstanding outfield, you can put him at first base as well, his left-handed at-bats have been just outstanding as well, and it was getting to a place where he seemed to feel comfortable, so it’s a tough break. It’s always a tough time for an injury. But he’s a hard worker, and he’s going to be back as soon as he can be back, because that’s Luke Raley.”

Today in Mariners History

• 1979: At the Mariners’ new low-A affiliate in Alexandria, third baseman Gary Pellant becomes just the second player in the history of organized baseball to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same inning.