Mariners aim to steal a win in Queens as Woo faces Mets rookie Nolan McLean
After a back-and-forth slugfest in which Seattle pulled ahead late, the Mariners will try to stretch their recent success against the Mets to eight wins in 11 all-time meetings. Seattle will send its most consistent starter this season, Bryan Woo, to the mound for a game that figures to feature plenty of offense again. Woo is coming off one of his rougher performances of the year, yet still logged a quality start with a nine-strikeout outing that tied his career high. It will be Woo’s first career start against New York.
The Mets counter with Nolan McLean, who will be making his Major League debut. In a nod to the team’s ongoing midseason reshuffle, New York designated veteran pitcher Paul Blackburn for assignment to make room for McLean. Blackburn’s time in the spotlight this week marks a chapter some Mets fans may recall from his time in the Mariners organization in 2016, a period tied to the Vogelbach trade and later moves in that era.
Lineups and broadcast details
Managers Dan Wilson and his counterpart in Queens won’t be unveiling any elaborate lineups for today’s tilt. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. Pacific Time. TV coverage will be on ROOT Sports, with Brad Adam and Rick Rizzs alternating play-by-play duties as a rotating color presence fills in for Aaron Goldsmith during Players Weekend. For radio, fans can tune into Old Reliable as usual.
Prospects and storylines
Harry Ford continued to swing a hot bat, belting his 15th homer of the year to extend his season-long power display, matching his career high despite playing in fewer games this year. The game against the Mets presents an opportunity for both teams to build on momentum from last night’s high-scoring affair.
Today in Mariners and Mets history
Mariners history notes include 1996, when Mark Whiten hit a pinch-hit homer in his first Seattle at-bat, helping the club beat the eventual world champion Yankees 6-5. In 2008, Dae-Ho Lee contributed a two-run shot to help South Korea beat Japan 5-3 in the opening rounds of the Beijing Olympics. More recently, 2022 saw Robbie Ray strike out 10 against the Angels, while Julio Rodríguez collected three hits, including a ninth-inning homer, as Seattle won 8-2 in Anaheim.
For the Mets, 2017 featured an unusual infield arrangement for Travis d’Arnaud, who played as part of a rotating infield scenario due to injuries. The plan involved frequent position swaps with Asdrúbal Cabrera, creating a box-score curiosity where d’Arnaud and Cabrera saw multiple second- and third-base assignments in a single game.
What to watch
– Bryan Woo’s stamina and command against New York’s lefties and righties will be tested as he builds on a year of strong results with a tougher assignment in the Mets’ lineup.
– Nolan McLean’s MLB debut represents a high-leverage moment for a Mets club looking for immediate impact from its prospect depth.
– The bullpen and early offense could decide this one, given last night’s high-scoring back-and-forth and the potential for another quick turnaround.
Summary and outlook
This game shapes up as a continuation of a competitive era between the Mariners and Mets, with Seattle banking on Woo’s steady excellence to tame a Mets lineup featuring fresh faces and debut moments in McLean. If Woo can navigate the early innings and Seattle’s offense stays productive, the Mariners could push their success against New York to a small streak in their favor. Look for a competitive, high-energy afternoon with plenty of small-ball and big swings as both teams chase a win to set the tone for the rest of the series.
Commentary and added value
– This matchup highlights Seattle’s depth, notably the emergence of Harry Ford as an ongoing offensive contributor.
– McLean’s debut is a storyline to watch for how the Mets leverage their farm system’s latest call-ups against a proven, consistent starter.
– The broadcast team and lineup notes reflect ongoing efforts to adapt in-season, including experimental staffing on the TV side during Players Weekend.
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