SEATTLE MARINERS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S TILT…the Mariners continue a 3-game series against the Chicago Cubs (0-1) tonight…Seattle is coming off their first series win of the season at the Cleveland Guardians (2-1) to begin the current road trip (2-2)…tonight’s game will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS with Aaron Goldsmith and Mike Blowers on the call and broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) and Mariners.com with Rick Rizzs and Dave Sims.
ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners lost yesterday in 10 innings by a score of 3-2…Seattle has lost back-to-back extra-inning games and fall to 0-3 in extras this season…despite the loss, Seattle is 2-2 over the last 4 games and 3-3 over the last 6 games…Seattle holds a 1-2 series record this season.
• For Starters – Mariners starting pitchers have posted a 3.32 ERA (21 ER, 57.0 IP) with 20 walks and 52 strikeouts so far this season…their 3.32 ERA ranks 5th-best in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay (1.83), Minnesota (2.62), Chicago-NL (3.23) and New York-AL (3.26).
• Interleague Play – Tonight’s game marks the 2nd of 15 consecutive interleague games (0-1) for Seattle: at Chicago-NL (April 10-12), vs. Colorado (April 14-16), vs. Milwaukee (April 17-19), vs. St. Louis (April 21-23) and at Philadelphia (April 25-27)…Seattle will face interleague opponents in back-to-back series only one other time during the 2023 schedule: Sept. 1-3 at New York-NL and Sept. 4-6 at Cincinnati.
• Back on Track – Kolten Wong went 2-for-2 off the bench in last night’s game to record his first multi-hit game of the season…he has hit safely in back-to-back games after opening the season 1-for-23 at the plate over his first 7 games.
• Hot Start – Eugenio Suárez went 0-for-4 with 1 walk last night, snapping a 7-game hitting streak…despite going hitless last night, Geno’s 15 hits are his most through 11 games to start a season in his career…Geno has reached safely in 10-of-11 games this season, including 9 games with a hit and 5 games with multiple hits.
• Flex On ‘Em – Mariners starter Chris Flexen has made 3 career appearances against the Cubs – all in relief and all at Wrigley Field…overall, he has tossed 4.0 IP, while allowing 2 runs (1 earned) with a 2.25 ERA.
GOOD FRONT NINE…after going 1-for-2 with a home run off the bench in last night’s game, Jarred Kelenic is batting .300 (9×30) with 3 runs scored, 3 doubles, 1 home run, 3 RBI, 2 walks and 2 stolen bases over 9 games this season, while reaching base at a .344 clip and slugging .500 with a .844 OPS…Kelenic’s .300 (9×30) average over the current 9-game stretch is his best in any 9-game span during his career, ranking ahead of a .294 (10×34) stretch from July 30-Aug. 7, 2021.
KEEP THEM IN THE YARD…Mariners pitchers have allowed only 6 home runs over the first 11 games of the season, spanning 102.2 innings pitched (0.53 HR/9)…Seattle’s 0.53 home runs/9 innings ratio is 2nd-best in the Majors this season, trailing only 10-0 Tampa Bay (0.40 HR/9, 4 HR, 90.0 IP)…Seattle allowed only 20 home runs this spring over 30 Cactus League games, fewest in the Cactus League and 2nd-fewest in the Majors behind only Houston (16 HR)…in 2022, 5 of 8 teams in the Division Series ranked among the Top 10 clubs at preventing home runs during the 2022 regular season: Astros (T1st, 0.83 HR/9), Braves (T3rd, 0.92 HR/9), Dodgers (5th, 0.94 HR/9), Phillies (6th, 0.95 HR/9), Yankees (7th, 0.97 HR/9).
THE TEO WE KNOW…Teoscar Hernández has hit safely in 5 of his last 6 games, batting .280 (7×25) with 3 runs scored, 1 double, 2 home runs and 2 hit-by-pitch during that span (April 4 – c), while reaching base at a .333 clip and slugging .560 (.893 OPS)…during the 6-game stretch, Teo has raised his season batting average by .131 points after starting the season 1-for-17 (.059) over his first 5 games.
HARD-HITTING FACTS…since the beginning of the current road trip (4/7-c), the Mariners lead the Majors with 54 hard-hit balls (95+ mph), ranking ahead of the Dodgers (49), Angels (48), Yankees (47) and White Sox (47) during that span…overall this season, Jarred Kelenic leads the Mariners and ranks tied for 12th in MLB with a 60.0% hard-hit rate…hard-hit rate illustrates the percentage of balls in play with an exit velocity of at least 95 mph.
SO CLOSE…the Mariners lost in 10 innings yesterday by a score of 3-2, falling to 1-4 in 1-run games this season…each of Seattle’s last 3 losses have been by 1 run, and over their 7 total losses this season, the Mariners have fell by an average losing margin of -2.14 runs/loss….in 4 wins, the Mariners have won by an average of +3.75 runs/win…Seattle led the Majors in 1-run wins in both the 2022 season (34 W) and 2021 season (33 W).
CHILLS…of the current 8 players in the Mariners bullpen, 3 were not with the club in 2022: Trevor Gott, Gabe Speier and Justin Topa…the new trio has yet to allow an earned run this season over 13.2 innings pitched with 3 walks and 13 strikeouts…Gott and Speier are each among 19 relievers in the Majors this season to have made at least 5 appearances without allowing an earned run…among relievers with at least 5 appearances this season, Speier’s 0.38 WHIP is tied for 6th-best in the Majors.
TY IS THAT GUY…Ty France went 1-for-5 with 1 double and 1 walk in last night’s game to extend his hitting streak to 8 games…during the streak, Ty is batting .297 (11×37) with 8 runs, 5 doubles, 3 RBI, 2 walks and 1 stolen base, while reaching base at a .350 clip and slugging .432 (.782 OPS)…overall this season, Ty has hit safely in 10 of 11 games, including 4 multi-hit games…Ty’s 8-game hitting streak is tied for the 5th-longest active streak in the Majors.
YESTERDAY’S ROSTER MOVES…Seattle made 3 roster moves prior to yesterday’s series opener in Chicago:
• José Rodríguez (#54), RHP, selected from Triple-A Tacoma.
• JB Bukauskas, RHP, optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.
• Nick Solak, INF/OF, designated for assignment.
MARINERS RETURN HOME ON APRIL 14…the Mariners return for a homestand at T-Mobile Park that begins Friday, April 14…April 14 vs. Colorado is Cal Raleigh Bobblehead Night, with the first 20,000 fans through the gates receiving the bobblehead featuring Cal’s unforgettable “clinch” moment from last season…Saturday, April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day, with all Mariners players and on-field staff wearing #42 and the first Mariners All-Star Ruppert Jones throwing that day’s ceremonial first pitch…other dates on the homestand include Little League Day (April 16), Rally Cap Night Ticket Special (April 17), Hello Kitty Night (April 18), Weather Education day (April 19), All-Star Hat Night (April 21) and much more…for more information, visit Mariners.com/Promotions or Mariners.com/Tickets.
AS YOU MAY KNOW…Jarred Kelenic’s game-tying home run in the 9th inning of last night’s game traveled 414 ft with an exit velocity of 111.1 mph, but…DID YOU KNOW?…that with an exit velocity of 111.1 mph, Kelenic’s scoreboard shot was the hardest-hit game-tying home run in the 9th inning or later by any player in MLB since Julio Rodriguez hit a 117.2 mph game-tying home run off the hand operated scoreboard at T-Mobile Park in the 9th inning on Sept. 9, 2022 vs. Atlanta?…with his home run, Kelenic also became the 4th visiting player age 23-oryounger to hit a game-tying/go-ahead HR off the bench in the 9th inning or later in Wrigley Field history, joining Don Mueller (NY Giants 8/25/1948), Tommy Brown (Brooklyn Dodgers 6/6/1950) & Craig Biggio (Astros 8/22/1988).
TONIGHT’S MARINERS STARTER – RHP CHRIS FLEXEN
ABOUT FLEXEN…
• 28-year-old right-hander is making his 2nd start (3rd appearance) of 2023 and 1st start against the Cubs this season…he is also making his 66th career start (94th appearance) and 1st career start (4th appearance) against Chicago-NL. • Signed with the Mariners as a free agent, agreeing on a 2-year contract with an option for 2023 on 12/18/20.
• Was originally selected by the Mets in the 14th round of the 2012 MLB Draft out of Newark Memorial (CA) High School…made his ML debut with New York-NL on 7/27/17 at SD. • Graduated from Newark Memorial High School (CA) in 2012…played 4 years of baseball and was a quarterback on the football team for 2 years… was committed to Arizona State University before signing with the Mets.
• Appeared in parts of 8 minor league seasons with Mets organization (2012-19)…overall, went 43-31 with a 3.61 ERA (236 ER, 588.0 IP) with 192 walks and 513 strikeouts in 122 games (105 starts)…in 2013, was named Topps Appalachian Player of the Year. • In his Mariners debut on 4/3/21, became the 900th Seattle Mariners player in franchise history.
• Recorded his 100th career strikeout when he struck out Cavan Biggio on 6/29/21 against Toronto (in Buffalo).
LAST START…L#1 in first start of the 2023 season on 4/5 vs. Los Angeles Angels…tossed 5.0 innings allowing 2 runs on 2 hits (1 HR), and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts.
NEXT MAN UP…after beginning the season as a member of the bullpen, Flex- en is making his second start of the season in place of the injured Robbie Ray…Ray was placed on the 15-day IL on 4/1 with a left flexor strain.
PREVIOUSLY AT WRIGLEY…each of Flexen’s previous three appearances against the Cubs have been at Wrigley Field…he holds a 2.25 ERA (4.0 IP, 1 ER) against them and has held Cubs’ batters to a .231 (3×13) batting average…all his previous appearances came when he was a member of the New York Mets.
INTERLEAGUE PLAY…is making his 12th career start against an interleague opponent…his last appearance against an interleague opponent came on 7/13 in game one of a doubleheader at Washington…pitched 6.0 innings and allowed 1 run and 2 walks while striking out 1…earned his 6th win on the season.
HITS LIMIT…Flexen’s 6 hits allowed so far this season ranks first among Mariners pitchers with at least 9.0 innings pitched…he ranks ahead of Luis Castillo (9)…opponents are batting .188 (6×32) with 5 walks and 5 strikeouts against Flexen this season.
I’M A RELIEVER…made his first appearance out of the Mariners bullpen this season on 3/31…pitched 4.0 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits, 3 walks and 1 strikeout.
LOS BOMBEROS…made 11 appearances as a reliever in 2022 going 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA (3 ER, 16.2 IP) with 12 strikeouts and recording 2 saves out of the bullpen.
BIRTH MONTH BOOM…in 5 July starts in 2022, Flexen went 3-0 with a 1.95 ERA (6 ER, 27.2 IP) with 18 strikeouts…his 3.57 ERA (25 ER, 63.0 IP) in 12 career July starts is his lowest ERA in any individual calendar month…Chris celebrates his birthday on July 1.
FLEX ON ‘EM…tied for the longest winning streak by a Mariners starting pitcher in 2022 after winning 4 consecutive decisions (6/24-7/13)…Logan Gilbert and Robbie Ray also recorded 4 game win streaks last season.
HIGH QUALITY…recorded 9 quality starts last season, the 5th most on the team…his last quality start was on 7/25/22 against Texas when he pitched 6.0 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits (1 HR) and 2 walks while striking out 5.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS…had decisions in each of his first 7 starts of the 2022 season (1-6)…the last Mariners pitcher to start the season with 7-or-more decisions in a row were Aaron Harang (2-5) and Brandon Maurer (2-5), both in 2013.
SEASON-HIGH PUNCHIES…struck out a season-high 8 batters on 7/4/22 at San Diego, matching his career high…this marked the third time Flexen has struck out 8 batters in one game.
HOME IS WHERE THE START IS…since he joined the Mariners, Flexen is 12-10 with a 3.54 ERA (66 ER, 168.0 IP) with 117 strikeouts and 40 walks in 33 appearances at T-Mobile Park and 10-6 with a 3.75 ERA (66 ER, 158.1 IP) with 108 strikeouts and 56 walks in 33 games on the road. WINNING WAYS…Flexen’s 8 wins last season was tied for 4th on the team with George Kirby…he trailed Logan Gilbert (13), Robbie Ray (12),
and Marco Gonzales (10)…7 of his wins came as a starter and 1 win came as a reliever.
2022 RECAP…went 7-9 with a 3.92 ERA (51 ER, 117.0 IP) with 81 strikeouts and 43 walks as a starter in 2022…moved to the Mariners bullpen in August…made his first relief appearance of the season on 8/13/22 at Texas…as a reliever Flexen went 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA (16.2 IP, 3 ER) with 12 strikeouts and 7 walks.
CAREER…has appeared in 6 Major League seasons with New York-NL (2017-19) and Seattle (2021-23)…was originally selected by the Mets in the 14th round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Newark Memorial (CA) High School…made his Major League debut with New York-NL on July 27, 2017 at San Diego.
CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
Cubs vs. Mariners
The Cubs and Mariners meet for the first time since the 2019 campaign when Chicago swept four-game season series two at both Wrigley Field and Safeco Field … Chicago has won its last six contests against the Mariners dating to July 31, 2016.
IT’S OKAY, JUST WALK IT OFF: The Chicago Cubs, winners of four of their last five games, tonight play the second of three games against the Seattle Mariners after winning last night’s series opener, 3-2 in 10 innings, as Nico Hoerner recorded his first career walk-off RBI with a game-winning single to plate Nick Madrigal from third … last night’s tilt was Chicago’s first extra-inning game of 2023 as well as it’s first one-run victory of the season.
Baseball is a funny game … Hoerner’s exit velos in his first three at-bats: 103.0 mph (groundout), 104.0 mph (single) and 97.5 mph (single) … the exit velo on his game-winning single? … 68.2 mph.
Last night’s victory was the team’s first of a walk-off variety since Aug. 20 of last season vs. Milwaukee (a 6-5, 11-inn. victory on a Willson Contreras walkoff single).
IT STARTED WITH LESTER’S GAME-WINNING BUNT: The Cubs have won each of their last six games against the Mariners, starting with the July 31, 2016, ESPN Sunday Night Baseball game in which Jon Lester laid down a game-winning sac bunt to plate Jason Heyward for a 7-6, 12-inning victory (the game took four hours, 18 minutes).
This six-game winning streak against Seattle is tied for Chicago’s longest against an A.L. club since interleague play began in 1997 … the Cubs won six-straight games against Baltimore from Aug. 22, 2014-July 16,2017, as well as against the White Sox (June 22, 2007-June 22, 2008) and Minnesota (June 20, 2015-Sept. 18, 2020).
ABOUT THE ROTATION: Cubs starting pitchers have a 3.42 ERA (18 ER/47.1 IP) in the season’s early going, the best mark in the N.L. and fifth in the majors – tonight’s opponent, Seattle, is fourth (3.32) … through the first nine games of last season, the rotation had a 4.91 ERA (and a 4.84 ERA through the first 10 games of last year) … this season, Cubs starting pitchers have walked 18 and struck out 48.
CURRENT EVENTS: Following this series vs. Seattle, the team has an off-day Thursday before starting a six-game west coast swing against the Dodgers (3 games beginning Friday) and Athletics (3 games starting April 17).
The Cubs open the season with 15 of their first 24 games through April 27 at Wrigley Field … of those first 24 tilts, just five are against their own division, the N.L. Central: the season-opening Brewers series and the abbreviated two-game set against the Reds, April 3-4 … in fact, the Cubs are in the fifth game (3-1) of 29-straight games outside of the division until hosting the Cardinals for three games, May 8-10.
INTERLEAGUE INTERLUDE: With MLB’s new schedule format for the 2023 season, the Cubs will play every A.L. club this regular season, totaling 46 games … Chicago is 3-1 this season, and 219-220 (.499) all-time against the A.L. since interleague play began in 1997 … the team was 6-14 (.300) in interleague play last season.
OH, HAPPY DAY!: Cubs left fielder Ian Happ has reached safely in each of his first nine games this season, hitting safely in seven of those … he’s opened the year with a .333 average (10-for-30) with three doubles, one homer, six RBI and 10 walks to contribute to a .500 on-base percentage and a 1.033 OPS.
Since June 12 of last year, Happ is batting .358 (19-for-53) with five doubles, a triple, two homers, seven RBI and a .433 OBP in 14 interleague contests … he’s hit safely in 12 of those games.
RUCK ON THE BUMP: Cubs reliever Michael Rucker has stranded all five runners he’s inherited thus far … he’s one of just four major league relievers to not allow an inherited runner to score while also stranding at least five on base … he joins Pittsburgh’s Dauri Moreta (6 IR/0 IRS), Arizona’s Drey Jameson (5 IR/0 IRS) and Miami’s Andrew Nardi (5 IR/0 IRS).
WORD TO THE WISE: Patrick Wisdom on Saturday delivered a solo homer vs. the Rangers … since the start of the 2021 season, Wisdom has averaged one home run every 14.93 at-bats, the third-best rate among N.L. hitters with at least 900 plate appearances (Kyle Schwarber, 12.10, and Pete Alonso, 14.63).
Wisdom’s 56 homers since the start of the 2021 season are tied for 12th-most among N.L. hitters.
THIS AND THAT: Eric Hosmer has reached safely 11 times in 21 plate appearances in his last six games with eight hits and three walks, driving in six in that span … on the season, Hosmer is hitting .320 (8-for-25) with two doubles and seven RBI in eight games.
Ian Happ’s .500 OBP and 10 walks in the season’s early going are both tied for second in the N.L.
Patrick Wisdom’s .655 slugging percentage is ninth in the N.L. … Nico Hoerner’s four stolen bases are tied for third-most in the N.L.
Marcu Stroman’s .128 average against is second in the N.L. while Justin Steele’s .167 mark is 10th … Stroman’s 0.92 WHIP is seventh.
‘PENNING SOME THOUGHTS: Cubs relievers in the last six games have held opponents to a .193 average (16-for-83), walked five and struck out 22 while pitching to a 3.18 ERA (8 ER/22.2 IP) with a 0.93 WHIP.
Chicago’s bullpen has tossed 33.2 innings thus far, the fourth-fewest innings in the majors … Twins relievers have thrown the fewest with 30.2 frames, followed by the Reds (33.0) and Giants (33.0) … Chicago’s relievers have a 27.5% strikeout rate, the third-best mark in the N.L. and sixth in baseball
Starting Pitcher – #19 RHP Hayden Wesneski (0-0, 5.79)
Last Time Out
Hayden made his 2023 season debut, April 4 at Cincinnati … received a no-decision, allowing a career high-tying six hits and three runs … also surrendered a career high-tying two home runs … was his third career outing (second start) vs. the Reds; is 1-1 with a 2.30 ERA (5 ER/15.2 IP) in those games.
2023 Splits and Season Notes
Hayden will make his second start of the 2023 campaign (first at Wrigley Field) tonight … will make his first career interleague start.
Went 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA (4 ER/17.0 IP) and 22 strikeouts in five Cactus League starts … did not allow a run in his first 11.2 IP of the Spring before surrendering his first runs in his fourth start of Spring Training.
2022 Splits and Season Notes
Hayden in 2022 made his major league debut, appearing in six games (four starts) with Chicago, going 3-2 and posting a 2.18 ERA (8 ER/33.0 IP) … recorded 33 strikeouts, registered a 0.94 WHIP and .198 opponent batting average.
After his debut on Sept. 6, his 2.18 ERA ranked ninth among qualified major league pitchers.
Made his major league debut in relief Sept. 6, 2022, against Cincinnati (5.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, BB, 8 SO) … he earned his first career win in the outing … became the first reliever in major league history (since at least 1901) to make his major league debut with at least 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing two or fewer hits and striking out at least eight batters.
Made his first major league start Sept. 17 against the Rockies, allowing one run on three hits and seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings … became the first Cubs rookie with a start of at least 7.0 innings while allowing one run or fewer, walking none and striking out at least seven batters since Mark Prior (July 19, 2002).
In the fifth inning on Sept. 22 at Pittsburgh, tossed the Cubs’ first immaculate inning since LaTroy Hawkins did so, Sept. 11, 2004 against the Marlins.
Was acquired from the Yankees on Aug. 1 for right-handed pitcher Scott Effross.
Went 6-7 with a 3.51 ERA (35 ER/89.2 IP) in 19 starts for Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre, with 83 strikeouts.
Career Notes
Hayden is in his second season in the Cubs organization, his fifth professional campaign overall.
Ranked as the Cubs’ No. 5 prospect by MLB.com entering the 2023 season.
Was acquired from New York (A.L.) on Aug. 1, 2022, for pitcher Scott Effross.
During parts of three seasons in the minors in the Yankees (2019-2022) and Cubs (2022) organizations, he is 18-16 in 67 games (47 starts) … has posted a 3.68 ERA (110 ER/269.0 IP) with 287 strikeouts, 78 walks and a 1.16 WHIP.
In 2021, was named Double-A Northeast Pitcher of the Month for September, going 3-0 with one complete game and a 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20.0 IP) in three starts.
Following the 2021 season, was ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Yankees organization by Baseball America and an Organization All-Star by MiLB.com
