From Seattle Mariners On SI · · 3m
George Kirby deserves better than this offense
Seattle wasted a winnable start against a pitcher with a 6.37 ERA, and Friday hands them the exact same matchup again.
In brief
Seattle wasted a winnable start against a pitcher with a 6.37 ERA, and Friday hands them the exact same matchup again. With 15 games left and no margin, the Mariners have to punish a struggling pitcher they have already seen once this week. Originally reported by Seattle Mariners On SI.
A 6.37 ERA walked in
Jeffrey Springs arrived at T-Mobile Park last Saturday without a win since April 14. The Mariners turned him back into an ace for a night.
Seven scoreless innings
Springs gave up two hits, both Cal Raleigh singles, struck out six and walked two. He needed only 81 pitches to get through seven.
He was 0-13 before this
Across his previous 21 starts, Springs had gone winless with a 7.60 ERA. Against Seattle he looked completely in control.
“A pitcher who had gone 0-13 with a 7.60 ERA across his previous 21 starts suddenly looked completely in control.”
The rematch is Friday
Springs and Kirby go again just six days after the Athletics won 6-2. Seattle has seen the whole plan already, so there are no surprises left.
Kirby kept it winnable
He allowed three earned runs over 6 2/3 innings, including a Max Muncy homer. Not perfect, but well inside what a big-league lineup should beat.
The bats showed up late
Seattle scored nothing until Springs left the game. By then the A's had the lead and their shaky starter had his confidence back.
“the Mariners were chasing a game they had failed to enter”
No shutout required
Kirby shouldn't have to blank a 59-win team to win, and certainly not against a starter carrying an ERA above six.
“Kirby shouldn't need to throw a shutout to beat a 59-win Athletics team.”
Springs earned some credit
He changed speeds, filled the zone and kept hitters off balance. He also owns a strong career record at T-Mobile Park, so the warning signs were there.
Eighty-one pitches is malpractice
Oakland's bullpen had covered 11 1/3 innings in the first two games and badly needed length. Seattle let Springs coast at under 12 pitches an inning.
“81 pitches across seven innings is offensive malpractice”
Muncy is the loud one
He homered off Kirby, then singled home Zack Gelof later. That was his second homer in as many nights against Seattle.
“We've already seen this movie.”
Bolte is the pest
Henry Bolte doubled home a run off Kirby and enters the series hitting .277 with a .358 on-base percentage. Let him reach and he starts trouble.
Cleaner locations, fewer gifts
Gelof and Lawrence Butler can pile on if Kirby leaves anything up. He doesn't need to reinvent himself, just stop handing out invitations.
“He just needs cleaner locations and fewer invitations.”
Ten games from elimination
Seattle sits 69-78, five back of the last Wild Card with 15 to play. A soft September schedule only helps if they beat the teams they should.
The key point
With 15 games left and no margin, the Mariners have to punish a struggling pitcher they have already seen once this week.
