Cincinnati Reds Series Preview: Seattle Mariners

CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Reds completed a three game weekend sweep of the Chicago White Sox on Sunday to move to 9-6 on the season. Now, they travel out west for the first time this season for a three game series against the Seattle Mariners. 

Cincinnati played well in Chicago, with tremendous pitching performances from Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Graham Ashcraft. Plus, they flashed the leather in the outfield and stole a slew of bases. Beating up on a bad team for an entire series is a great way to build momentum, and the Reds will try to take it with them to Seattle. 

The Mariners are coming off of a home weekend series with the Chicago Cubs, where they dropped two out of three to the Cubbies. Seattle enters this series at 6-10, and struggling in the American League West.

Here’s our series preview of the interleague matchup:

GAME 1

WHERE: T-Mobile Park

WHEN: Monday, April 15, 9:42 PM

STARTING PITCHERS: Frankie Montas (CIN), George Kirby (SEA)

Frankie Montas will look to rebound from a tough outing against the Mariners. He lasted just five innings in that outing and allowed three earned runs. Montas prides himself on being pitch-efficient, but he wasn’t against the Brewers, throwing 96 pitches. The Mariners have one of the worst team batting averages in MLB, so look for Montas to be aggressive and challenge the Mariners hitters. 

George Kirby enters this matchup with the Reds off of a rough outing against the Toronto Blue Jays. He allowed five earned runs in four innings in that one. In his last two starts, Kirby has allowed 13 earned runs in 7.2 innings of work. 

GAME 2

WHERE: T-Mobile Park

WHEN: Tuesday, April 16, 9:40 PM

STARTING PITCHERS: Hunter Greene (CIN), Logan Gilbert (SEA)

The development of Hunter Greene this season is one the Reds and their fans will be watching closely. After a tremendous outing against the Mets in his second start of the year, Greene struggled against Milwaukee. His inability to be consistent has led to some Reds fans wondering if he can ever be a top of the rotation starter, and even if he’s best suited for the bullpen. 

With Seattle’s offensive woes, this game is a perfect opportunity for Greene to get back on track. He has faced only three of these current Mariners hitters in his career but has only allowed hits to one of them: Luis Arias. With two home runs and four RBI in four at-bats against Greene, Arias will be one to keep an eye on on Tuesday. 

Right-hander Logan Gilbert will look to continue his strong start for Seattle. In three starts this season, Gilbert has a 2.66 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 20 innings of work. He’s worked deep into games, too. Going seven or more innings in two of his three starts. 

GAME 3

WHERE: T-Mobile Park

WHEN: Wednesday, April 17, 4:10 PM

STARTING PITCHERS: Andrew Abbott (CIN), Bryce Miller (SEA)

Andrew Abbott is scheduled to start the series finale. He has a 2.60 ERA so far this season. Abbott rolled through the White Sox lineup on Friday night, surrendering just four hits in seven innings of work. He went seven innings, his longest outing of the season, and allowed just one earned run. The Mariners have only faced a lefty in nine games this season and are batting just a tick over .230 against them. 

The Reds have faced a left-handed starter in every series they’ve played this season up until now. Seattle will throw right-hander Bryce Miller on Wednesday. Miller has a 1.96 ERA in 18 innings this season. He was tremendous this weekend against the Cubs, allowing just three hits in 6.1 innings against a Cubs lineup that has hit well to start the season. Miller has not put up big strikeout numbers this season, with just 17 on the year. 

WHAT ELSE?

Monday marks one of Major League Baseball’s best traditions: Jackie Robinson Day. The league does a great job honoring Robinson, who broke the color barrier on April 15, 1947. In 1997, Ken Griffey Jr. honored the 50th Anniversary of Robinson’s debut by switching his No. 24 with the Mariners to 42. He did it again in 2007 as a member of the Reds, after asking permission of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig who allowed anyone who wanted to wear the number to wear it as well. Selig then designated that every player wear No. 42 in 2009, and the tradition has stood ever since. 

With Griffey still involved in the Mariners organization and his connection to the Reds and Jackie Robinson Day, and with the Mariners giving away a Junior bobblehead all three games of this series, don’t be surprised if The Kid makes an appearance.

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