# 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.
- Title: George Kirby deserves better than this offense | Shortify
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: mariners, mlb, george kirby, wild card, athletics, sports, George, Kirby, deserves, better, offense, Seattle Mariners On SI
- Source: Seattle Mariners On SI — https://si.com/mlb/mariners/onsi/mariners-offense-owes-george-kirby-more-in-athletics-jeffrey-springs-rematch
- Published: 2026-09-11T18:45:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: mariners, mlb, george kirby, wild card, athletics, sports
## 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.
## Key takeaway

With 15 games left and no margin, the Mariners have to punish a struggling pitcher they have already seen once this week.