The Mariners are going to need to pull out all the stops to beat the Rangers in Arlington; here's one idea they should consider.
The Seattle Mariners will open up a four-game series with the division-rival Texas Rangers on Friday night at Globe Life Field.
The Mariners (51-52) are 0.5 games behind the Rangers in the American League West standings, and they are looking to prevent Texas from taking the season-long series tiebreaker in this series.
We've already told you that we think the Mariners need to play, coach, and manage this series aggressively in order to keep their playoff chances in good standing, and along those lines, there is an outside-the-box idea that the Mariners should be willing to entertain in this series:
Having Luis Castillo in the bullpen for the last two games of the series.
Now, I want to be clear, this isn't an idea that I organically came up with, it actually came up in the course of conversation on social media, and I discussed it further on the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast.
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo (58) throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at T-Mobile Park. Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images"I think the Mariners need to put Luis Castillo in the bullpen in this series. Not because Luis Castillo is bad, not because I think Luis Castillo can't handle it as a starter, but because Luis Castillo is the guy who is available in the bullpen for this series.
Look, the Mariners have a 6-man rotation. They are operating with a 7-man bullpen. I believe that a 7-man bullpen in a 4-game series is already tough sledding.
But when I'm asking Andrés Muñoz to maybe get four outs or maybe throw two innings, or I'm asking José Ferrer to throw two innings, or I'm asking Gabe Speier to throw five outs, or I'm asking this guy to throw back-to-back days, and maybe that guy's throwing three days, if I'm gonna manage it that aggressively, I need an eighth arm in the bullpen, and I need an eighth arm who is trustworthy."
Castillo last pitched on Tuesday, meaning that he could be available in the bullpen, possibly as early as Saturday. And if not Saturday, then Sunday and Monday. But having him down there would allow manager Dan Wilson to manage more aggressively and avoid having to use guys like Nick Davila or Michael Rucker or Cole Wilcox in big spots, no disrespect to them of course. And of course, Castillo can go multiple innings.
And if Castillo does end up pitching for the Mariners in relief, then you deal with his rotation spot for the upcoming Dodgers series then. This is the series that matters, and this is the series that can break the Mariners season if it goes poorly.
The Mariners and Rangers will play on Friday at 5:05 p.m. PT. Bryce Miller will make the start in his home state against MacKenzie Gore.
Of note
The latest edition of the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast, featuring ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney is out now. You can listen here, or you can watch in the YouTube player below.
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