Game Preview
If the Seattle Mariners have a pitching creed, it goes something like this: Get strikes with your first pitches. On Tuesday night, when the Mariners face the Oakland Athletics, right-hander George Kirby will be pitching for them.
By catching the first pitch 69.3 percent of the time, Kirby is tied for second in the major leagues. Max Scherzer of Texas had a superior winning percentage (71.2 percent). The Mariners’ staff is on record pace, striking out batters with 64.4 percent of their first pitches. The Los Angeles Dodgers set a new mark in 2018 with a 64.2 percent winning percentage, per FanGraphs.
Mariners rookie starter Bryan Woo struck out 14 of the first 20 batters he faced in Monday’s 7-0 victory over the Athletics. The Mariners are currently atop the American League West, having won four straight games and 12 of their last 13. Woo pitched six innings, and J.P. Crawford and Julio Rodriguez each hit a home run for the team.
Monday night’s audience of 37,434 was the biggest in Seattle since the 2017 home opener. After announcing their relocation to Las Vegas, the A’s have played in front of sparse crowds in Oakland this season. The Mariners’ support has not gone unnoticed by the team.
Kirby did not record a decision in Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox in extra innings. In 5 2/3 innings, he allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out nine. In five career starts against Oakland, Kirby is 2-0 with a 4.28 ERA. On May 4, in Oakland, he pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, and he won 5-3.
On Tuesday, the A’s plan to start Ken Waldichuk, a lefty with a 2-7 record and a 6.05 ERA. Waldichuk has gone four straight starts without recording a winning or losing decision. He gave up five runs on eight hits in five innings on Thursday as the visiting A’s beat the White Sox, 8-5.
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Oakland Athletics vs Seattle Mariners Game Information
- Date: 08/29/2023
- Time: 09:40 PM ET
- Location: T-Mobile Park.
- How to Watch Athletics vs Mariners: MLB.TV
- Live Stream: MLB.TV
