Mariners Aim for Historic First Hit Against Guardians in Game 3

The Mariners and Guardians are set to make history Saturday in what will be just their third game of the season. Uniquely, the Mariners have yet to record a single hit, marking the first time in MLB history that a team has gone hitless in their first two games. In fact, only nine teams have ever played two consecutive games without a single, and no team has ever extended that streak to three.

This intriguing narrative sets the stage for the Mariners’ opening series. Lookout Landing will provide fans with a trio of daily stories for each game, including a game preview featuring starting lineups and essential pregame information, a postgame chart highlighting turning points, and a recap of the game. This comprehensive coverage will continue throughout the entire 162-game season, inviting fans to engage in the conversation.

As the Mariners look to change their fortunes, they will showcase a lineup tailored for facing left-handed pitching. Rob Refsnyder takes over for Dom Canzone as the designated hitter and will lead off, while Victor Robles steps in for Luke Raley in right field, batting seventh. Notably, Cole Young remains at second base, hinting that he may not be strictly platooned with righty Ryan Bliss, as Young had the most at-bats against lefties during Spring Training.

On the mound for the Mariners will be Bryan Woo, making his first start of the season. The Seattle Times reported on the team’s strategy to keep Woo healthy throughout the year, focusing on maximizing his rest between starts to enhance his performance.

Opposing Woo will be lefty Joey Cantillo, who is looking to thwart the Mariners’ quest for a historic hit. Cantillo spent last season transitioning between the bullpen and the rotation, finding success after moving to starting in July, where he posted a 2.96 ERA and a 3.21 FIP over 13 starts. His standout pitch is a remarkable changeup that achieved a 49.4% whiff rate last year. While his curveball is solid, he has been experimenting with a new slider grip this spring to improve that pitch’s effectiveness. The main challenge for Cantillo will be his command, which has shown slight improvement since he joined the rotation.

Meanwhile, J.P. Crawford is back in Seattle as he continues to rehabilitate his shoulder injury. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation as the Mariners aim to break their historic drought.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PDT. Fans can catch the action on Mariners TV, featuring Aaron Goldsmith, Ryan Rowland-Smith, and Angie Mentink, or tune in to 710 ESPN with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr. on the radio.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.