The Cubs tour of the AL West continues with a series against the Mariners. By the vagaries of scheduling, the Seattle has already played two series against Cleveland?? They went 3-4, and also dropped a series against the Halos. Fangraphs projects a 82-80 record, which puts them in roughly the same tier as the Rangers team that the Cubs just beat. The Mariners have a bunch of fun players, from Julio Rodriguez to Eugenio Suarez, a former Red and longtime favorite of Pat Hughes.
(Projected) Team leaders
Numbers taken from Zips projections – based on past performance there’s a 30% chance that I’ll put someone who is no longer in the team on these lists on any given week (dying laughing).
Moules Marinieres
- OBP: Ty France (.345)
- ISO: Cal Raleigh (.227)
- HR: Julio Rodrigurez / Teoscar Hernandez (31)
- R+RBI: Rodriguez (196)
- wRC+: Rodriguez (137)
- BSR: Rodriguez (2.2)
- Defense: J. P. Crawford (7.3)
- SP K/9: Robbie Ray (10.49)
- SP BB/9: George Kirby (1.78)
- SP FIP: Castillo (3.21)
- RP K/9: Andres Munoz (13.58)
- RP BB/9: Casey Sadler (2.64)
- RP FIP: Munoz (2.66)
- WAR: J-Rod (5.9)
Cubs
- OBP: Suzuki (.352)
- ISO: Wisdom (.230)
- HR: Wisdom / Swanson (24)
- R+RBI: Swanson (171)
- wRC+: Suzuki (135)
- BSR: Hoerner (1.4)
- Defense: Swanson (16.2)
- SP K/9: Steele (8.94)
- SP BB/9: Taillon (2.16)
- SP FIP: Stroman (3.69)
- RP K/9: Hughes (10.62)
- RP BB/9: Alzolay (2.89)
- RP FIP: Fulmer (3.78)
- WAR: Swanson (5.2)
Who isn’t available?
On the Cubs side, Seiya Suzuki is on the 10-day IL as he recovers from his oblique strain. He is currently in Iowa, and went 2-5 with a walk and an RBI over the weekend. Cyle is also on the 10-day IL with his shoulder injury, and probably won’t be back until May. He’s thrown some bullpen sessions down in AZ but is probably still at least a month out. The Cubs were hoping that lefty reliever Brandon Hughes would be ready to go for opening day, but he was put on the IL with a knee issue and is rehabbing in AAA. He pitched on Sunday, allowing a walk and two hits while striking out one in an inning of work. And lest we forget, RP Codi Heuer had Tommy John last year, and could be back at midseason.
Seattle closer Andres Munoz was placed on the IL over the weekend with a shoulder strain. He’s their best reliever, so as Joe Girardi might say that’s not what you want. SP Robbie Ray is shut down with an elbow flexor strain, which could shut him down for a month or so.
Pitching Matchups, game times
2023 Projected K/9, BB/9, ERA listed for all starters
Monday: Luis Castillo, RHP (9.37, 2.90, 2.98) vs Drew Smyly, LHP (8.03, 2.93, 4.96), 6:40 PM CT
Not gonna sugarcoat it, Smyly was awful in his first start. Go go small sample size I guess.
Tuesday: Chris Flexen, RHP (6.60, 3.06, 4.35) vs Hayden Wesneski, RHP (7.68, 3.10, 4.81), 6:40 PM CT
Chris Flexen sounds like he could be a minor villian from a forgettable late-90s PS1 JRPG.
Wednesday: Logan Gilbert, RHP (8.60, 2.54, 3.70) vs Marcus Stroman, RHP (7.87, 2.58, 3.59), 1:20 PM CT
Comments
No discussion of fun Mariners is complete without noting that Cal Raleigh’s nickname is “the big dumper.”
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Now is that because he has a big butt (and he cannot lie), or because he soiled himself at a most inopportune time?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing)o(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
I think one of his teammates coined it because of his knack for getting big clutch hits (as in, he dumps baseballs over the wall), but it would have been funnier if it related to a dump truck ass or crapping his pants. (dying laughing)
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
The story I am seeing on the Googles suggests that it is because of the clutch ability as well as the huge ass
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I admit I don’t pay attention to this because it might get drowned out by the background ballpark noises but perhaps some do care about the 10-seconds-max snippets of music piped in when the Cubs walk up
https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/you-gotta-have-a-cool-one-the-stories-behind-the-walk-up-songs-of-the-2023-cubs/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Today’s Cubs lineup, also kind of dreading when they give Hoernsby a day off
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Hmmm, wonder who got hurt and/or they got fed up with
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
How it’s not the aforeposted #9 hitter is beyond me.
andcountingQuote Reply
Hmmm, going short bullpen for a bit!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
andcounting,
Pretty sure Mastroboner is the only one with an option, if others on the edge are Rios or Torrens.
BVSQuote Reply
(dying laughing). Or send a RP down
BVSQuote Reply
Assad comes back up on April 25, I bet.
Meanwhile Velasquez plays a bit in right and either he or one of the other 3 mentioned above go down/out when Hughes and or Suzuki come off DL. I guess since Nelly still has options (?) It’ll be a short stay.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
I forgot if pitchers have to stay down for 10 or 15 days when optioned, should definitely drag Arizona Phil into the chat (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Ah this helps, 10 days for position guys, 15 days for pitchers, most likely to skirt the previously lax taxi squadding
https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/minor-league-options
Rice CubeQuote Reply
There’s also an off day after this series so that probably factored into the decision to go short bullpen for a few since Assad couldn’t pitch too soon anyway
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Although there’s still no minimum if they’re replacing an injured player, at least according to that version of the rule.
andcountingQuote Reply
MLB’s website must be doing dumb things with time zones – I’m seeing today’s game reported as both 6:40 and 7:40 CT on the site.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I’ve noticed that a couple times this season (and maybe on this site too for some reason). Time zone info has just been super unreliable lately.
andcountingQuote Reply
berselius,
But it is 6:40 CT tonight and all home night games for the next little bit.
andcountingQuote Reply
I tuned in four minutes after first pitch and the top of the first is already over (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Leave it to Hosmer’s Vlad impression to break up the no-hitter
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Big fan of this infield defense
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Happ! Bellinger!
PerkinsQuote Reply
I like this game.
andcountingQuote Reply
Bloop there it is
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Happinger!
berseliusQuote Reply
Hosmer really does not want to get DFA-ed.
PerkinsQuote Reply
andcounting,
6:40 always made a lot more sense. I remember when the White Sox had a promo with 7-11 a few years back where all evening games started at 7:11, which seems like one of the rare great marketing ideas. I’m still kind of surprised that it ended.
berseliusQuote Reply
Smyly a little sharper than his first start.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
And thank all that is holy he struck out the side in the Zaidman inning.
andcountingQuote Reply
Holy carp, I had no idea that they would install lights via helicopter. I guess you don’t have to worry about repositioning some big ol cranes but that does not seem wise (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
I was wondering why they did the flashy thing like they were trying to communicate with the Independence Day aliens
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Hey Mastrobuoni caught something
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Pretty pissed Nico didn’t drive in Miles. I don’t know how many more opportunities I’ll have to exclaim “Mastrobuoner!!!!!”
andcountingQuote Reply
📦🍔 time
berseliusQuote Reply
andcounting,
(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
TOOTBLAN!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Dansby.
andcountingQuote Reply
Frak
berseliusQuote Reply
That was a stupid pitch that deserved its fate
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Crap.
andcountingQuote Reply
That works
Walk it off, boys
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I’m cool with a Wisdom walk-off, if you’re reading this, Pat.
andcountingQuote Reply
Well bonus beisbol at least.
berseliusQuote Reply
Pinball mode.
andcountingQuote Reply
Always feel like extras is advantage road team but everyone has a shot at scoring the ghost runner so maybe the Cubs get lucky
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Fred Sanford heart attack dot gif
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Madrigal!
berseliusQuote Reply
M ——> inverted
berseliusQuote Reply
Alright, kid.
andcountingQuote Reply
I can’t believe that inning worked out
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Ok in retrospect…
1. I appreciated the Madrigal steal which could have ended in disaster, but will concede that he picked his spot well with A U hen E O out of position and the pitcher temporarily in a coma
2. Which makes it goofy that they’d pinch hit Barnhart just to bunt when Madrigal was already in scoring position, wasted two bad strikes including one that could’ve resulted in an out and at that point they should have abandoned the bunt
Thank goodness for Nico and for Scott Servais being outmanaged by Grandpa Rossy, which is probably not a compliment
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Fresh aromatic material http://www.obstructedview.net/cubs-3-mariners-2/
berseliusQuote Reply