Game 4, Mariners at Giants
Marco Gonzales vs. Ty Blach, 1:35pm
It’s Tuesday, the M’s have had two off-days in the past five days, and they’re playing a day game. Feels like an NBA schedule so far, which, frankly, I could get used to.
The M’s are sending Marco Gonzales to the mound for his first start of 2018, while the Giants counter with their opening day starter, Ty Blach. Gonzales looks to build on an eye-opening spring, and while the bar is decidedly low, I don’t think there’s ever been as many fan/team expectations placed on a 4th starter coming off a bad year as there are on Gonzales this year.
Meanwhile, the hitherto unremarkable Blach is coming off an opening day duel with Clayton Kershaw that saw the Giants win 1-0. Blach’s K rate last year was under 11%, a mark I wondered was against the rules in 2017. He wasn’t awful, so let’s spin the wheel of old Mariner pitch-to-contact lefty prospects and see who Blach compares to. There we go…slowing down now…ooh, Bobby Livingston! Livingston had a good change, and that’s a pitch Blach features to righties and is his best pitch overall. Blach’s fastball comes in 90-91 or so, and misses no bats. He’s got a slurvy curve ball that somehow gets fewer whiffs than his FB. All in all, it’s a profile that can only succeed with good command and a thumb on the scale to prevent HRs. Blach provides the command, while his home park helps hold down HRs.
1: Gordon, CF
2: Segura, SS
3: Cano, 2B
4: Haniger, RF
5: Seager, 3B
6: Healy, 1B
7: Heredia, LF
8: Freitas, C
9: Gonzales, SP
Perhaps it’s not a surprise with the M’s kicking off an inter-league series, but the M’s placed hobbled DH Nelson Cruz on the ten-day DL after he sprained his ankle on the dugout steps. Taylor Motter is up from Tacoma to take his place on the active roster.
Gonzales was a great hitter at Gonzaga; should be good to see him hit against an eminently hittable guy like Blach.
Ugh I despise National League park inter league games. It’s hard enough watching these marathon games then add in sac bunting and pitcher flails.
Technically a hit for Healy.
Seager, you are some kind of baserunner.
The times seem odd for this Giants series – they’re all day games. Anyone know if the Giants play a lot of day baseball, or is it just an odd series?
Segura definitely seems to have been a great pickup on Dipoto’s part.
PLEASE – no outfield collisions!
NICE catch by Segura to end the game!
3 innings 8 k’s. Nice Diaz!
I think Wednesday’s game had to be a day game since the M’s need to make it to Minnesota for Thursday’s opening day game at Target Field.