MARCH 14, 2021•SODOMOJO.COM
Taylor Trammell should be the Mariners starting left fielderI have become a huge fan of Taylor Trammell on and off the field and I 100% believe he should be the starting left fielder on Opening Day. C...
Tosses perfect inningGivens fired one perfect inning while striking out one as he earned the hold in Saturday's spring win over the Mariners.
ImpactGivens had a rough start to spring training, as he allowed three runs in his first Cactus League appearance this year. However, the right-hander has now allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out two over two scoreless innings in each of his past two appearances. Manager Bud Black has named Daniel Bard the team's closer to begin the season, and Scott Oberg will likely serve as the primary setup man if he's fully built up in time for Opening Day. Givens should serve as a late reliever heading into his first full year with the Rockies, but he has several pitchers ahead of him who are more likely to receive save chances.
MARCH 14, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Pulled from Sunday's lineupMurphy was scratched from Sunday's spring game against the Brewers, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
ImpactNo injury has been announced, so it's unclear if it's just a late lineup change of if the 29-year-old is dealing with some sort of issue. Luis Torrens will start in his place and will benefit should Murphy be forced to miss any real time.
MARCH 14, 2021•ROTOWIRE
High-leverage opportunities on tapGraveman is one of the relievers the Mariners plan to utilize in "the highest-leverage innings" of games this coming season, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
ImpactThe versatile veteran's career has hit several rough patches over the last three seasons in the form of a 2018 Tommy John surgery that led to a missed 2019 and a benign spinal tumor that caused him to miss part of the 2020 campaign. Graveman finally rediscovered his stride when he returned as a reliever late last season, with his fastball velocity even ticking up to career-high levels (96-97 mph). That heater is part of what makes him a potentially effective late-inning asset again this season, and it worked well for him through his first two scoreless Cactus League appearances before he allowed four earned runs on four hits and a walk over an inning in his third outing Wednesday.
MARCH 14, 2021•ROTOWIRE
High-leverage role plannedMiddleton is still ticketed for high-leverage opportunities during the 2021 season despite struggling thus far in Cactus League play, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
ImpactThe big right-hander has allowed a total of seven earned runs on seven hits, including four home runs, and one walk over three innings across his first three spring appearances, so the landing in Seattle has been rough to say the least. However, Kramer notes that Middleton, along with presumptive primary closer Rafael Montero and veteran Kendall Graveman, are the three players the Mariners have earmarked for the "highest-leverage innings." Middleton's difficult exhibition slate thus far is somewhat reminiscent of his 2020 with the Angels (5.25 ERA, 1.50 WHIP), but prior to last season, the 27-year-old generated a 6-1 mark, 3.23 ERA, nine saves (in 12 chances) and 12 holds across 91 appearances during the 2017-19 seasons.
MARCH 14, 2021•ROTOWIRE
14 days until Mariners Opening Day: #14 Yusei Kikuchi previewOpening day is just 14 days away which means it is time to preview Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi. After a rocky rookie cam...
MARCH 14, 2021•SODOMOJO.COM
Blasts walkoff homerBird went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Saturday's spring win over the Mariners.
ImpactBird entered Saturday's Cactus League matchup as a ping hitter and recorded his first extra-base hit of the spring with his walkoff home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. If the 28-year-old makes the major-league roster to begin the season, he'll likely have to settle for a bench role with C.J. Cron and Josh Fuentes slated to handle the bulk of the work at first base. Bird has gone 3-for-20 with one home run, three runs, four walks and five strikeouts over his first 10 spring games this year.
MARCH 14, 2021•ROTOWIRE
