The Tacoma Rainiers return to the diamond at Cheney Stadium today, hosting Las Vegas in the opener of a six-game series. We have one of our few midweek day games today, with an 11:35 first pitch.
Tacoma wrapped up a successful road trip on Sunday at Sacramento, and flew home late that night. Despite dropping the final game of the series, the Rainiers went 4-2 against the River Cats to post their first series victory of the season.
In particular, Tacoma’s starting pitching was outstanding in Sacramento – even in the loss on Sunday, starter Justus Sheffield tossed a gem for five innings. In the last four games, Tacoma’s starters pitched 21 innings and allowed just one run, for a paltry 0.43 earned run average.
The team is likely to be without designated hitter Kyle Lewis today. The Mariners slugger is at the end of his 20-day rehabilitation assignment, and it appears that he is going to be activated from the injured list tonight. Seattle plays a night game later, so roster moves likely won’t be announced until closer to their game time. Lewis was in the Mariners dugout during their 7-6 win over the A’s last night.
First baseman Evan White will continue has rehabilitation assignment with Tacoma. He’s still very early in the comeback process from sports hernia surgery, and it appears likely that he’ll be with the Rainiers for a couple weeks.
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: The entire PCL was off yesterday. On Sunday the Rainiers lost the final game at Sacramento, 6-1. Tacoma was on the verge of getting shut out on just two hits when new acquisition Andrew Knapp homered with two outs in the ninth inning. Rainiers starter Justus Sheffield had his best game of the season, pitching five innings and allowing just one run. Sheffield did not issue any walks, while striking out six.
TODAY: Las Vegas Aviators (22-20) at Tacoma Rainiers (15-27), 11:35 AM.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Oakland A’s.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Fran Riordan.
SEASON SERIES: Las Vegas leads, 4-2.
PITCHERS: RHP Collin Wiles (3-3, 5.63) at RHP Darren McCaughan (1-4, 6.90)
ROSTER MOVES: As discussed above, it appears that Kyle Lewis will be activated by the Mariners prior to their game tonight, which will require an accompanying roster move.
HOT HITTERS: Marcus Wilson has homered three times during his last seven games, and he has reached base in eight straight games… Joe Odom has a five-game hitting streak… Mason McCoy homered twice and drove in three runs on Saturday night in Sacramento… Erick Mejia had seven RBI in the Sacramento series.
OPPONENT NEWS: The Aviators beat the Rainiers four out of six games when the two teams played in Las Vegas at the end of April… Las Vegas has many different position players now, most notably adding MLB veterans Matt Davidson and Billy McKinney, and releasing Eric Thames… catcher Shea Langeliers is a highly rated prospect; he homered four times against Tacoma in April… Las Vegas has former Tacoma reliever Parker Markel in the bullpen… infielder Nate Mondou is from Lake Tapps, and he attended high school in Tacoma at Charles Wright Academy.
BROADCAST: All games will be broadcast free on a live audio stream which is available right here.
Unfortunately, there is no traditional terrestrial radio station carrying the games at this time.
PCL SCOREBOARD: Follow all league games in real-time with links to broadcasts and Gameday screens right here.
Links:
- Lots of good stuff in the weekly Tacoma Rainiers Notebook from The News Tribune.
- Tacoma’s Konner Wade won the PCL Pitcher of the Week award for his six shutout innings of two-hit ball at Sacramento.
- Here’s more on the potential return of Kyle Lewis to the Mariners lineup tonight.
- Ryan Divish analyzed the Seattle Mariners, who have passed the quarter mark of the MLB season.
- There were some real surprises among the Mariners roster moves made prior to the last game of the road trip in Boston. In this story, Taylor Trammell talks about the injury he suffered at Cheney Stadium on April 7.
- Jim Moore rather amusingly writes that the Mariners season is over.
- The Mariners had a good game offensively and beat the Oakland A’s last night, 7-6.
- No Mariners appear on this week’s edition of the Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet, but a former Mariner does.
March 24, 2023