Diamondbacks vs. Mariners, 6:40 p.m., Ch. 34

Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (6-2, 3.43) vs. Mariners RHP Emerson Hancock (2-2, 5.19).

At Chase Field: The Mariners fell out of first place this week and entered Sunday, June 8, on a five-game losing streak. The Diamondbacks hope they’ve drawn the former AL West leaders on the schedule at the right time, with Seattle struggling. Kelly gets the ball to open the series and is coming off seven scoreless innings on one hit at Atlanta in his last start. He’s faced the Mariners just once in his career and is 0-1, but he has not taken a loss in more than a month this season. … Hancock, originally drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 38th round out of high school in 2017, was taken in the first round in 2020 by the Mariners. He’s spent the past two seasons splitting time between Seattle and Triple-A Tacoma, but has been in the big leagues all of this season. Hancock has a win in his only career start against the Diamondbacks, but this season, he has been prone to giving up early runs before settling down.

–Jose Romero

Coming up

Tuesday, June 10: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (7-4, 5.51) vs. Mariners RHP Bryan Woo (5-3, 3.07).

Wednesday, June 11: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-3, 7.05) vs. Mariners RHP Bryce Miller (2-5, 5.73).

Thursday, June 12: Off

Friday, June 13: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (2-2, 4.60) vs. San Diego Padres TBA.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

The Seattle Seahawks’ OTA practices last week were open to media members, which offered them the first glimpse of new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme.

Abe Lucas: Seahawks have brand-new offensive ‘identity’

Of course, it’s difficult to glean too much from practices at this stage of the offseason. No live contact is allowed, teams are still early in the process of installing their playbooks and new players and coaches alike are still adjusting to their surroundings.

But even with all that in mind, former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus liked what he saw at OTAs from Kubiak’s Shanahan-style offense, which is known for its wide-zone blocking scheme and play-action attack.

In particular, Bumpus said it was refreshing to see the connectivity of Kubiak’s system and how everything ties together.

“I saw the vision,” Bumpus said during Friday’s Four Down Territory segment on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy. “I literally saw the vision of Kubiak and this offense. … I saw a wide zone. I saw a wide zone to a screen. I saw a wide zone look to a reverse boot over the top. You just see the connection from play to play to play.

“It was just refreshing to see not necessarily new concepts, but concepts that connect,” he added. “… It’s OTAs, (so) take it for what it is. But the vision was there and it was fun to see it unfold.”

The connectivity of Kubiak’s scheme is something other analysts have highlighted, too.

Back in January, when Kubiak was interviewing for the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator job, ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky described it as a “butterfly effect” during an appearance on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk. Orlovksy said the attachment from play to play is the biggest difference between Kubiak’s system and the one run by former Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb last season.

“In that (Shanahan coaching) tree that Klint comes from, that scheme, the most fundamental part of it is everything looks the same,” Orlovksy said. “There is always a butterfly effect to a play call, and things are always constantly attached. There’s a consistent sequencing of events. You’re painting a picture so often in that scheme, rather than writing a letter.

“And Ryan Grubb’s stuff (last) year, I do think that there was, we’re gonna call this play, and then we’re gonna call this play, and then two quarters later, we’re gonna call this play,” he added. “There wasn’t a lot of attachment to, all right, we called this, and we have these three things off of it that are gonna look the same or were set up because of.

“I think that’s the fundamental difference.”

Listen to the full Four Down Territory segment at this link or in the audio player near the middle of this story. Tune in to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

• Wyman: What looks different about Seahawks LB Tyrice Knight in Year 2
• Seattle Seahawks had perfect OTA attendance – why that matters
• Why new Seattle Seahawks WR stood out to Bump at OTAs
• Seahawks RT Abe Lucas on his health: ‘I’m playing – that’s a good sign’
• Takeaways from a week of Seattle Seahawks OTAs | Bump & Stacy

Follow @CameronVanTil

One of the Seattle Mariners most elite pitching prospects will miss an originally scheduled start for the High-A Everett AquaSox against the Eugene Emeralds at 5:05 p.m. PT on Saturday.

Switch-pitcher and Seattle’s 2024 first-round draft pick Jurrangelo Cijntje was listed as the team’s starting pitcher for Saturday, according to a game recap published on the AquaSox’s site. As of 3 p.m. PT, Nico Tellache replaced Cijntje as the scheduled starting pitcher, according to the MiLB Gameday preview.

The 22-year-old Cijntje was pulled from his last start against the Spokane Indians on May 31 due to discomfort in his right arm. He exited in the top of the third without registering an out. He had three strikeouts, one walk and allowed three earned runs on as many hits in two innings before his early exit.

There’s been no news on specifics of Cijntje’s injury was or if he had a setback before he was scratched Saturday.

Cijntje (No. 88 MLB Pipeline top 100, No. 86 Baseball America top 100) has made 12 appearances this season — nine as a starter and three as a reliever. He’s posted a 4.57 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 41.1 innings pitched in his first professional season.

Cijntje’s late scratch could be good or bad. The fact he was originally scheduled to pitch could be a sign the injury isn’t serious and the organization is being cautious. It could also mean that whatever is plaguing the former Mississippi State hurler is more severe than originally expected.

If the injury is severe or lengthy, it might not mean the end of Cijntje’s season. His stuff from his right side is more advanced than his left, but if he avoids a potential season-ending surgery, his ambidextrous ability can allow him to potentially stay on the field exclusively as a southpaw.

OPINION: IT’S TIME TO SEE LAZARO MONTES IN DOUBLE-A: The Mariners No. 2 prospect has continued to hit and produce with the High-A Everett AquaSox, and there’s nothing more for him to prove at that level. CLICK HERE

MARINERS PROSPECTS SHOW OFF POWER IN EVERETT AQUASOX WIN: Four Mariners prospects hit home runs in the AquaSox’s 6-1 win against the Eugene Emeralds on Wednesday. CLICK HERE

MARINERS INTERNATIONAL PITCHING PROSPECT NAMED MINOR LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Taiwanese pitcher Chia-Shi Shen made an amazing first impression in his debut month with the organization. CLICK HERE

You can also follow Teren Kowatsch on social media on Twitter @Teren_Kowatsch.