Seattle Mariners Manager Discusses Bullpen Usage Ahead of 7th-Consecutive Game
· Yahoo Sports
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners will enter a game against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday at T-Mobile Park coming off one of their most frustrating losses of the season.
The Mariners lost 6-5 in a rubber match against the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday after surrendering four runs in the eighth inning.
Visit asg-reflektory.pl for more information.
In the loss, Seattle opted to use high-leverage reliever Eduard Bazardo for one final out in the sixth inning. The Mariners opted to go to relievers Michael Rucker and Josh Simpson for the eighth. Rucker allowed four runs while Simpson allowed one.
A 5-run 8th! 😍#GuardsBallpic.twitter.com/EbYsmQduyW
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) June 28, 2026
Wilson's bullpen usage received criticism following the loss, and the Mariners won't have any days off to reset the 'pen and give relievers a day off before the series begins.
Seattle's first two games of the series against Los Angeles will be its seventh and eighth games in a row. The Mariners will get a day off Wednesday before concluding the series Thursday before playing another four consecutive game and will receive a typical day off July 6 before playing a six-game road trip before the All-Star Break.
During the weekend series against the Guardians, the Mariners went away from the piggyback approach to give each starter an extra day of rest. That, plus the unusual schedule and the team working with one less reliever have all played roles in how Seattle manager Dan Wilson has mapped out the bullpen, per his own words.
"It just depends on day-to-day what you're looking at. But certainly, this is a strange one with the middle of the series off-day. ... It's a factor. but there are numerous factors that we look at, too, as we try to make those decisions."
The one consistent set-up for Seattle, especially with the injuries to Matt Brash and Cooper Criswell, has been Andres Munoz reserved for the ninth inning while the other high-leverage arms are malleable with how they're used. It's also forced Wilson and the Mariners to use lower-leverage arms in high-leverage situations.
Until the Mariners have all their reliever arms healthy, the bullpen usage will likely be a continued balancing act with six starters on the rotation.
"I think some of that is something you assess day-to-day," Wilson said. "Just based on how they're feeling, where they're at. But at the same time, we will have to make some adjustments. Like we said before, we are one man down in the bullpen. And I think these guys are willing to do just about anything they need to do to make it work. But at the same time, we have to be smart with guys. ... It's just a combination. It shifts from day-to-day."
JOIN THE CONVERSATIONRemember to join our MARINERS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Mariners fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!