Reason For Optimism
Due to the all-star break and a well timed off day, this is the Mariner rotation for the next three weeks.
Bedard
Vargas
Felix
Morrow
Washburn
Bedard
Off
Off
Off
Washburn
Felix
Bedard
Morrow
Off
Washburn
Felix
Bedard
Morrow
They won’t start Felix in the first game after the break if he pitches in the ASG, so that’s why Washburn is slotted into that spot, if you’re wondering. Still, over the next 14 games, the Mariners are scheduled to get four starts from Bedard, three starts from Felix/Washburn/Morrow, and one from Vargas. You’ll probably see Olson optioned to Triple-A today to make room for Bedard, because the M’s are going to be able to go with a four man rotation for the next few weeks.
This helps in several ways, even beyond the obvious of having better pitchers on the mound more often. The four man rotation will allow them to use Vargas out of the pen this weekend against Texas and in the Cleveland series, which will give the bullpen a lefty and an extra arm, so the concerns about overworking the bullpen will be minimized for the next few weeks. It also gives the M’s the ability to have Olson working in Triple-A as a starter, so he can be ready to step right into the rotation if Bedard or Washburn are traded.
If they can get the bats to keep hitting, this could be a fun couple of weeks.
So the M’s bench for tonight’s game is Josh Wilson, Balentien and Johjima.
And it must be assuming that his sinker will actually start sinking again, and by extension, that the reason that his sinker was not working was because he was injured.
I’ll believe that when we see it.
vargas or olson out of the pen is a beautiful option.