SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners bounced back after a disappointing 7-0 loss in an interleague series against the San Francisco Giants on Friday in a big way.
The Mariners rattled off two wins in the final pair of games of the series to take the first set of the second half. They improved back to .500 (50-50) with a 6-3 victory against the Giants on Sunday.
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Seattle came to within a half-game of the Texas Rangers for first place in the American League West with Sunday’s victory against San Francisco, giving the M’s a chance to retake the division lead in its second-straight interleague home series, this one against the Cincinnati Reds, beginning at 6:40 p.m. PT on Monday at T-Mobile Park.
Here’s the pitching matchups for the series between the Mariners and the Reds:
George Kirby will get the first nod for Seattle in the upcoming series on the heels of an impressive streak.
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The 2023 All-Star has rattled off a streak of five consecutive quality starts. He struck out seven and allowed two earned runs on eight hits (one home run) in six innings pitched against the Miami Marlins on July 8.
Andrew Abbott will be looking to get back on track after a disappointing outing against the Chicago Cubs on July 12. He fanned three, walked three and allowed four earned runs on as many hits in four innings pitched.
Of course, he’s a left-hander, which is a challenge all in of itself for the M’s.
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Luis Castillo will be looking to start another streak of quality starts in game two against Cincinnati.
Castillo struck out four, walked one and allowed four earned runs on nine hits (three home runs) in five innings pitched against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 10. Remember, Castillo was an All-Star with the Reds who the Mariners acquired at the 2022 trade deadline.
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Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo throws during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 10 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. | Pablo Robles/Imagn Images
Chase Burns will get the nod in the second game of the series for Cincinnati fresh off signing a long-term contract extension with the National League Central club.
Burns fanned two, walked six and allowed three earned runs on as many hits in five innings of work against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 8. The National League All-Star is one of the best arms in baseball, and his stats reflect it.
Emerson Hancock wasn’t able to get through his last outing against the Rays on July 12. He exited after trying to bare-hand a comebacker.
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Hancock struck out two and walked one in 1.2 innings of work before exiting.
Singer will be closing out the series for the Reds coming off a seven-inning quality start. He fanned six and allowed two earned runs on four hits (one home run) in his seven frames against the Colorado Rockies on July 17.
Singer is on the trade block for the underwhelming Reds, who are in last place in the National League Central.
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