Kikuchi scheduled to start for Seattle against Colorado
The Seattle Mariners host the Colorado RockiesAUGUST 7, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
YUSEI KIKUCHI #16 - PITCHER - HOUSTON ASTROS
9-10 W-L •
1.20 WHIP •
4.05 ERA
9-10 W-L
1.20 WHIP
4.05 ERA
Murphy's pinch-hit HR lifts Rockies over Giants 6-4
Daniel Murphy hit a two-run, pinch-homer during a five-run seventh inning to lead the Colorado Rockies over the San Francisco Giants 6-4AUGUST 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ohtani homers, Bundy brilliant as Angels top Mariners 6-1
Shohei Ohtani homered in his first plate appearance since being shut down as a pitcher, Dylan Bundy struck out 10 in the third complete game of his career and the Los Angeles Angel...AUGUST 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Athletics use late rally for 3-2 victory over Mariners
Pinch-hitter Robbie Grossman lined an RBI double to score Tony Kemp in the top of the 10th inning, and the Oakland Athletics rallied for a 3-2 win over the Seattle MarinersAUGUST 2, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fans nine over six scoreless Kikuchi allowed three hits and one walk over six scoreless innings in a no-decision against the A's on Saturday. He struck out nine.
Impact This was a big improvement on Kikuchi's first start (five runs on five hits and four walks with four strikeouts over 3.2 innings in Houston). He induced 20 swinging strikes on 89 pitches and fell just one strikeout short of tying his career high. Kikuchi had some buzz back in spring training due to the increased velocity he was showing and indeed his fastball is up several ticks. The lefty is still probably best viewed as a streamer, but he could separate himself from the pack with a few more starts like this. Kikuchi gets the Rockies at home next week.
AUGUST 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Out of Saturday's lineup Kemp is not in the lineup for Saturday's game at Seattle.
Impact Kemp is 0-for-7 with two runs, a stolen base and two walks through nine plate appearances, and he'll hit the bench with southpaw Yusei Kikuchi on the mound for the Mariners. Chad Pinder will receive the start at second base for the A's.
AUGUST 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Kikuchi expected to start as Seattle hosts Oakland
The Seattle Mariners host the Oakland AthleticsAUGUST 1, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Taijuan Walker overpowering as Mariners beat Athletics 5-3
Taijuan Walker threw one-hit ball over seven innings, Kyle Lewis recorded his sixth straight multi-hit game, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 5-3AUGUST 1, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Used in fifth inning Sunday Magill, who entered the season in line for save opportunities, worked the fifth inning in his 2020 debut Sunday against the Astros, firing a scoreless frame in which he allowed a h...
Impact The 30-year-old was not called on in the first two games of the season, but manager Scott Servais summoned him early with starter Yusei Kikuchi not making it out of the fourth inning and Zac Grotz only utilized to get the last out of that frame. Magill impressively rang up swinging strikeouts of Michael Brantley and Alex Bregman to open his outing before yielding a single and walk to Yuli Gurriel and Carlos Correa, respectively. Despite his mid-game usage Sunday, Magill could conceivably still see time in high-leverage scenarios while Yoshihisa Hirano (illness) remains out of action.
JULY 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Starting against lefty Jones will make his first big-league start Sunday at designated hitter while batting seventh against the Mariners.
Impact With lefty Yusei Kikuchi on the bump for Seattle, the hulking right-hander will get the nod. Jones is known partly for his strong defense at first base, but he will be eased in as a hitter only in his first MLB game. The 6-foot-7, 225-pound first baseman hit .291/.388/.501 with 22 home runs, a 12.8 percent walk rate and a 21.1 percent strikeout rate in 125 games at Triple-A last season.
JULY 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Greinke expected to start as Houston hosts Seattle
The Seattle Mariners take on the Houston AstrosJULY 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
McCullers returns, Astros top Seattle for 15th straight time
Lance McCullers Jr. was solid in his return from Tommy John surgery, and Yuli Gurriel and George Springer homered to help the Houston Astros to a 7-2 win over the Seattle MarinersJULY 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Impresses in final camp start Kikuchi, who'll start the Mariners' third game of the regular season against the Astros on Sunday, was impressive over four innings in Monday's intrasquad game, Greg Johns of MLB.c...
Impact Kikuchi cruised early, firing three scoreless innings before the opposing squad of teammates got to him for two singles and a walk in the fourth. The southpaw ultimately allowed two of those runners to score with a throwing error, but manager Scott Servais was pleased to see Kikuchi's fastball reaching 96 mph and his offspeed pitches also showing improvement during the 55-pitch outing. "I thought he threw the ball pretty well. His stuff was really good and the velocity was up there," Servais said. "Hopefully he can build on that. All the guys so far -- Marco [Gonzales], Taijuan [Walker] and Yusei should be good to go. If things go well, I hope to get them through five innings their first time out."
JULY 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
AL West Preview Capsules
JULY 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Scuffles in intrasquad start Kikuchi allowed four runs on four hits and four walks over 2.1 innings in Tuesday's intrasquad game, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
Impact It was Kikuchi's first appearance in a game situation since spring training, so the rusty outing is understandable to a significant degree. The left-hander threw regularly during the shutdown and had been pleased with the quality of his bullpen sessions since summer camp started, but he noted through his interpreter after Tuesday's appearance that his balance and mechanics were thrown off somewhat by elements such as baserunners and signs. Kikuchi did hit 95 mph regularly with his fastball, however, and he reported that both his stamina and arm were feeling good throughout his time on the mound. The 29-year-old lines up for one more intrasquad start before taking the hill in the Mariners' second regular-season game, which is scheduled for July 25 in Houston.
JULY 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Seattle Mariners: Yusei Kikuchi will bounce back after horrid rookie season Yusei Kikuchi was awful in his first season with the Seattle Mariners, but there is hope that he will bounce back in 2020. What do hangovers...
JULY 14, 2020 • CALLTOTHEPEN.COM
Even in shortened season, focus for Mariners is on future
The Seattle Mariners will be beginning a season without Ichiro Suzuki or Felix Hernandez on the opening day roster for the first time in 20 yearsJULY 14, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mariners hope 6-man rotation pays off now and going forward
The Seattle Mariners kicked off summer camp trying to figure out how to get pitchers ready in just three weeksJULY 3, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Inside the regimented, raucous culture of Japanese baseball The documentary "Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams," premiering Monday on ESPN, chronicles the tournament that made stars out of Shohei Ohtan...
JUNE 29, 2020 • ESPN.COM
Should have access to facility Kikuchi, who has remained in the Arizona area while spring training has been suspended, should be one of the players that begins participating in informal workouts at the team's Pe...
Impact With MLB teams now allowed to grant restricted access to their spring training or home facilities in accordance with local guidelines, the Mariners will begin hosting staggered groups of players for informal workouts early this week. Given his proximity to the Peoria complex, Kikuchi is fully expected to be one of those participating moving forward. The southpaw, readying for his second season stateside after a successful career in Japan, was thought to be making impressive progress with both his velocity and command before Cactus League play was paused. Having access to certain amenities and equipment at the spring facility should allow Kikuchi to start getting back on track after he was forced to work out in more limited fashion in recent weeks.
MAY 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Yusei Kikuchi: A Mariners signing that didn't work out in 2019 Kikuchi struggled mightily during his first major league season, and there don’t seem to be many clear reasons to expect a turnaround.
MAY 12, 2020 • YARDBARKER.COM
After season of tinkering, Mariners pitcher Yusei Kikuchi spent the offseason perfecting PEORIA, Ariz. -- In the days after the 2019 season mercifully came to an end, and before the offseason truly began for players not in the po...
FEBRUARY 17, 2020 • ARCAMAX.COM
Kikuchi expected to start for Seattle against New York
Seattle will host division rival New YorkAUGUST 29, 2019
Japanese stars Kikuchi and Tanaka set to face for first time
Yusei Kikuchi to face Masahiro Tanaka for 1st time in majorsAUGUST 29, 2019
Mariners visit Tampa Bay, aim to build on Kikuchi's strong performance
Seattle looks to follow up a two-hitter by Sunday starter Yusei KikuchiAUGUST 22, 2019
