Mariners Game #81 Preview: 6/27, SEA at TEX

Aces on the mound in Texas at the halfway mark

The Mariners and Rangers will send their aces to the mound in the series opener in Texas.

Logan Gilbert and Nathan Eovaldi are having similar seasons. Both appear to be having career years, with career best walk rates, strikeout rates, and FIPs. Both have also struggled with arm health and spent time on the injured list. Gilbert will make his third start since returning from the IL, while Eovaldi was activated this afternoon and will make first start since May 27. Gilbert has dominated the Rangers for his career, with a 2.54 ERA in 14 starts; the Mariners have historically hit Eovaldi well, with a .785 OPS in 12 games. The Mariners are 15-4 against the Rangers the last two seasons.

It’s an interesting series for home/road splits. The Mariners enter the series with the second best road wRC+ in MLB and one of the largest home/road splits ever. The Rangers pitching staff has the best home ERA in MLB in a park that’s played unusually suppressive.

Lineups

News

• Cal Raleigh will participate in the 2025 Home Run Derby.
• Harry Ford is not in the starting lineup, nor is he on the active roster. Ford was added to the “taxi squad” on Thursday after Mitch Garver took a foul tip to the jaw. Garver has “no structural damage” in his jaw and is feeling better, per Tim Booth on social media.

Game Information:

Game time: 5:05 PT

TV: ROOT Sports NW with Aaron Goldsmith and Angie Mentink, with Brad Adam reporting

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.

Mariners Moments of the Millennium

• 2018: Kyle Seager hits a two-run homer off Zach Britton to tie the game in ninth; Seager later scores on a sac fly in the 11th to give the Mariners an 8-7 lead. Edwin Díaz earns his 30th save in the bottom of the 11th to set the club record for the record for most saves prior to the All-Star Break, passing Kazuhiro Sasaki (29, 2001).
• 2009: Félix Hernández strikes out nine and allows one unearned run in eight innings against the Dodgers. The Mariners lineup picks up 12 hits, including a homer from Ken Griffey Jr., in a 5-1 win.
• 2007: Daisuke Matsuzaka dominates the Mariners lineup for eight innings, striking out eight and allowing just one run. With the game tied in the 11th, Ichiro draws a one out walk and scores on a José López walkoff double, served up by former Mariner Joel Piñeiro. The Mariners are now 42-33, in the middle of a 19-6 stretch.
• 2006: The Mariners torch Brandon Webb for seven runs on nine hits, one of the few blemishes in his Cy Young season. The Mariners pick up seven extra base hits, including two homers from Kenji Johjima, en route to an 11-7 victory.