Mariners Game #4 Preview and Discussion: CLE at SEA, 3/29/26

After a heartbreakingly close loss last night, the Mariners will look to avoid losing their first series of the season today against Cleveland. Emerson Hancock will make his season debut for Seattle. Thanks to Zach Mason, who accidentally wrote this preview for Hancock when he’s actually recapping Castillo’s start against the Yankees tomorrow. All mine now, baybeeee.

Seattle will hand the ball to Emerson Hancock for his first start of the season. This ought to be Bryce Miller’s spot, but he’s still getting stretched out after missing some time in Spring Training with oblique tightness. Hancock lost his spot as the sixth starter last season to Logan Evans and was eventually relegated to the bullpen. But with Evans out for the year with Tommy John surgery, Hancock returns to the rotation.
Three things to watch from Hancock tonight:

He was able to gain some velocity on his fastball when he moved to the bullpen, and he kept most of the gain in three-inning outings this spring. Can he hold the added velo over a full start?
He workshopped his sweeper over the winter and turned it into a pitch that was highly effective in Cactus League play. How effective is it against a legit lineup, and does he use it more than the three-or-so pitches per game he’s used in the past?
He’s had to trade velocity for movement on his slider in years past. This spring, he was able to get both at the same time. Was that a fluke, and, if not, how effective is it now?

Some in-case-you-missed-it reading:

Some background info on the Steelheads, as well as quotes from Mark McLemore and Mike Cameron on the significance of wearing the Steelheads jerseys and lifting up this particular part of Negro Leagues history at this moment in time.
Last night’s loss felt designed in a lab to make me, personally, feel as best as I possibly could about a loss, and after sleeping on it, I tried to explain why.

Lineups:

Back to the usual with a righty on the hill for Cleveland.

The Guardians will send out Slade Cecconi, who was the centerpiece in the trade when the cash-strapped Guardians shipped out Josh Naylor to Arizona. Cecconi is a junkballer (complimentary) who will throw a lot of off-speed at the Mariners to try to disguise his less-impressive heater, so the Mariners’ hitters job will be to not chase after his curve and slider and try to get to the fastball.

Injury Updates:

J.P. Crawford (shoulder) remains with the team; Tacoma has an off day tomorrow and then returns home, so it’s likely he’ll head there on a rehab assignment this week while the team faces the Yankees. Carlos Vargas (lat strain) was in the building today, but no news on where he is in his return from injury. Tomorrow will be Justin Hollander’s weekly update, so look for more info then.

Roster move:

Prior to the game, the Guardians announced they have traded OF Johnathan Rodriguez to the Baltimore Orioles for minor league reliever RHP Carter Rustad.

Today’s Game Information:

Game time: 4:20 PT

TV: NBC Peacock. The broadcast crew for Peacock is Jason Benetti, Rick Manning, and will also include our own Ryan Rowland-Smith.

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill.

Looking Ahead:

The Mariners start a three-game series against the Yankees tomorrow and you know what? Good. Let’s go ahead and get it out of the way early. Monday night is Hello Kitty night with a HK squish pillow promotion (must purchase ticket special to receive promotion)