Crawford's three hits power Mariners past Athletics 4-3
JMAY 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
RAFAEL MONTERO #47 - PITCHER - HOUSTON ASTROS
1-2 W-L •
1.41 WHIP •
4.70 ERA
1-2 W-L
1.41 WHIP
4.70 ERA
Struggles to second hold Montero worked in the sixth inning of Sunday's win over Cleveland, recording his second hold despite allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk during the first two-thir...
Impact The right-hander was utilized much earlier into the game than usual and scuffled through a 31-pitch outing. The two runs charged to Montero crossed the plate on a groundout and an error, but that's not to say he wasn't complicit in setting those runners up in scoring position considering he allowed a walk and a double to the first two batters he faced. Montero yielded a second two-bagger before getting the hook, with the amount of hard contact a continuing concern after he'd also allowed three earned runs, including a home run, two appearances prior against the Dodgers.
MAY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Collects one-out save Montero retired the only batter he faced to pick up a save Friday in a win over Cleveland.
Impact Seattle entered the ninth inning staked to a six-run lead, but things got a little dicey after Cleveland scored a pair of runs and then put two additional runners on base. Montero was summoned to put out the fire, and he succeeded by inducing a groundout to first base. The save was Montero's first since May 2 as he appeared to have yielded the the primary closer role to Kendall Graveman. However, Graveman was called upon to pitch part of the sixth and all of the seventh inning Friday, so the situation may be a fluid one moving forward.
MAY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Kelenic announces arrival as Mariners top Indians 7-3
Prized prospect Jarred Kelenic made his first major league hit memorable with a two-run homer and later added a pair of doubles, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 7-3 win over the...MAY 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Seattle takes 3-game slide into matchup with Los Angeles
Seattle will try to break its three-game losing streak when the Mariners take on Los AngelesMAY 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lux's 3-run homer in 8th rallies Dodgers past Mariners 6-4
Gavin Lux hit a dramatic three-run homer in the eighth inning and the struggling Los Angeles Dodgers rallied late for a 6-4 victory over the Seattle MarinersMAY 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Means, Orioles to take on Kikuchi, Mariners
The Mariners are expected to send Yusei Kikuchi to the mound Wednesday and the Orioles will give John Means the startMAY 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Picks up third win Montero (3-1) pitched the eighth inning of Tuesday's 5-2 victory over Baltimore to earn the win, allowing two hits and a HBP.
Impact The outing was far from clean as Montero loaded the bases with two outs before inducing a ground out to escape the jam. His three wins are a bit misleading as he sports a 3.89 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with four saves, four blown saves and only 10 strikeouts in 14 innings. It looks like Kendall Graveman has leapfrogged Montero as the No. 1 arm in the bullpen.
MAY 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Lewis, Seager lead Mariners to 5-2 win over Orioles
Kyle Lewis and Kyle Seager homered, reliever Kendall Graveman extended his scoreless streak to 18 2/3 innings and the Seattle Mariners beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2MAY 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Converts fourth save Montero pitched a clean ninth inning while striking out a hitter en route to his fourth save of the season in a 2-0 win over the Angels on Sunday.
Impact Manager Scott Servais brought Kendall Graveman in for the eighth to face Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon and Jared Walsh so Montero got the call to close out the game instead. The 30-year-old needed just seven pitches to get three outs and struck out Albert Pujols in the process. It was a much-needed bounceback performance after he had allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits over his last 1.2 innings. Montero appears to still have the trust of his manager in late-game scenarios despite having a 4.15 ERA although he's still second-fiddle to Graveman in terms of save opportunities.
MAY 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Sheffield, Mariners relievers shut down Angels for 2-0 win
Justus Sheffield shook off early control problems to allow just two hits over six innings, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 2-0 win over the Los Angeles AngelsMAY 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Knocked around for four runs Montero (2-1) took the loss Wednesday against the Astros when he let up four runs (two earned) on three hits and a walk with no strikeouts over two-thirds of an inning.
Impact Montero entered in the eighth inning looking to preserve a two-run lead and left the game with the Mariners needing two runs to game the game alive. The 30-year-old quickly found himself in danger with two men on and one out but had a chance to get out of it with a double-play ground ball; however, 2020 gold glover Evan White managed to extend the inning after he missed his target throwing the ball to second and narrowed the team's lead to 5-4. Montero ended up allowing the next two men to reach and was subsequentially taken out after manager Scott Servais had seen enough with the game all of a sudden knotted at 5. His replacement wasn't much better and allowed two of the inherited runners to score before finally getting out of the nightmare inning. Montero had a nice stretch of four straight scoreless outings before Wednesday's collapse, but now has four blown saves and a 4.09 ERA on the year. It wouldn't be surprising if Servais demoted the hard-throwing righty from a share of the closer's role due to his lack of consistency so far to begin the season.
APRIL 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Mariners take 4-game slide into matchup with Astros
Seattle heads into the matchup against Houston in a rut, losers of four straightAPRIL 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Castro's walk helps Astros rally in 8th to beat M's 7-5
Pinch-hitter Jason Castro drew a bases-loaded walk to put Houston in front during a four-run eighth inning, and the Astros rallied to beat the Seattle Mariners 7-5APRIL 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Flexen scheduled to start for Mariners at Red Sox
The Mariners will start Chris Flexen on Saturday and the Red Sox are expected to counter with Nathan EovaldiAPRIL 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Earns second win Montero (2-0) struck out a batter in a perfect ninth inning, ultimately earning the win in Thursday's 7-3, extra-innings victory over Boston.
Impact The righty has lowered his ERA to 2.61 and his WHIP to 0.77 in 10.1 innings pitched. A former starter, Montero boasts a four-pitch repertoire that's slightly unusual for a closer, but it has proven effective thus far in 2021. Seattle's surprising, early-season success has given Montero high-leverage innings and save opportunities, but the 30-year-old will remain a valuable fantasy reliever even if his team regresses to its projected mediocrity.
APRIL 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Kikuchi, Mariners to take on Perez, Red Sox
The Mariners will start Yusei Kikuchi on Friday and the Red Sox are expected to counter with Martin PerezAPRIL 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mariners rally with 4-run 10th, beat Red Sox 7-3 on 3 hits
Mitch Haniger hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning moments after Sam Haggerty’s go-ahead double, and the Seattle Mariners rallied past the Boston Red Sox 7-3 despite getting ju...APRIL 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Notches third save Montero walked and hit a batter but was able to successfully close out the game for his third save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Dodgers on Monday.
Impact Montero found himself in some trouble after walking Edwin Rios and then hitting Mookie Betts, but he was able to escape after getting Corey Seager to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game. It was the 30-year-old's first save since April 11, as manager Scott Servais has used both Kendall Graveman and Keynan Middleton in save situations over the last week. Montero remains in danger of losing out on save chances, considering that Graveman has been the most effective pitcher of the trio thus far and could be afforded more opportunities to grab hold of the closer role.
APRIL 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Mariners use 2 HRs, Moore's defensive gem to top Dodgers 4-3
Rookie Taylor Trammell homered and added a key RBI double, third baseman Dylan Moore thwarted a Dodgers rally with a terrific defensive play in the seventh and the Seattle Mariners...APRIL 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Haniger, France lead Mariners past Astros 7-2
Ty France hit a two-run home run, six Seattle pitchers combined on a one-hitter and the Mariners beat the depleted Houston Astros 7-2APRIL 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Logs setup duty Thursday Montero, who's converted only two of five save opportunities this season, fired a scoreless sixth inning during which he allowed one hit in a win over the Orioles in Game 1 of a do...
Impact Manager Scott Servais has found some closing success with Kendall Graveman of late, with the latter converting both of his save chances. That's apparently served to displace Montero from the ninth-inning role, and at least for Thursday, bump him down into a setup slot. If both players continue to thrive in their current assignments, the arrangement could certainly endure.
APRIL 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Blows another save Tuesday Montero (1-0) got the win in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Orioles after blowing his third save of the season, giving up one run on two hits and a walk in on...
Impact Entering the game in the seventh inning to protect a 3-2 lead, Montero instead gave up a two-out run to send the game to extra innings, only for the M's to retake the lead in the top of the eighth. The right-hander is just 2-for-5 on save chances to begin his tenure in Seattle, and while Montero's 4.26 ERA and 8:3 K:BB through 6.1 innings are far from terrible, he could begin to cede save opportunities to Kendall Graveman (who got the save in Game 1 on Tuesday) or Keynan Middleton if he doesn't find some consistency.
APRIL 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Urías, Orioles beat mistake-prone Mariners, split twinbill
Ramón Urías hit a game-ending single with two outs in the seventh inning and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the miscue-prone Seattle Mariners 7-6 to earn a doubleheader splitAPRIL 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Seager HR in 9th, Mariners rally late from 6 down, top Twins
Kyle Seager hit his second homer of the game, a three-run drive in the ninth inning to complete the Seattle Mariners’ comeback from a six-run deficit to beat the Minnesota Twins 8-...APRIL 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
