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The Mariners and Guardians face off Saturday in their third game, vying for a historic outcome.
The Mariners are currently without a single hit, an unprecedented start as they are the first team to begin a season with two single-less games. While nine teams have previously gone two straight games without a single, none have extended this streak to three.
For this opening series, remember that Lookout Landing offers a daily suite of stories for each game: a pre-game preview featuring lineups and essential info (doubling as a live discussion thread), a post-game chart detailing key turning points, and a comprehensive game recap. This coverage will span all 162 games this season, and we encourage you to join us! Sign-up details are available at the bottom of the page.
To recap our preparations for Opening Day, here’s a summary of recent content:
The Mariners’ pursuit of history tonight features a revised lineup compared to the initial two games. Fans will see the 2026 “lefty starter” lineup debut, with Rob Refsnyder stepping in for Dom Canzone as designated hitter and leading off. Victor Robles takes Luke Raley’s place in right field, batting seventh. Interestingly, left-handed Cole Young remains at second base, indicating he may not be strictly platooned with right-handed infielder Ryan Bliss, especially since Young had the most spring training at-bats against lefties.
Bryan Woo is set to make his season debut on the mound tonight. The Seattle Times published an article this Saturday morning detailing the team’s strategy to maintain Woo’s health throughout the season, primarily by optimizing his rest periods between starts.
Opposing the Mariners tonight, and potentially influencing their historic quest, will be left-handed pitcher Joey Cantillo. Jake Mailhot provided this assessment in our Series Preview:
Last year, Joey Cantillo divided his time between the bullpen and the starting rotation. After transitioning to a starter role in July, his performance significantly improved, evidenced by a 2.96 ERA and 3.21 FIP over 13 late-season starts. His standout pitch is an exceptional changeup, which generated an impressive 49.4% whiff rate last season. While his two breaking balls are decent, the curveball is superior, though he experimented with a new slider grip this spring to enhance its effectiveness. Command remains his primary challenge, despite a slight improvement in his walk rate after joining the rotation. With a secured spot in the starting rotation this season, Cantillo is poised for substantial progress if he can harness his control issues.
J.P. Crawford has returned to Seattle to continue his rehabilitation for a shoulder injury.
First pitch: 6:40 PM PDT
TV: Mariners TV, featuring Aaron Goldsmith, Ryan Rowland-Smith, and Angie Mentink
Radio: 710 ESPN, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.