The Mariners are headed for some critical decisions on their rotation front.
The Seattle Mariners lost an embarrassing 22-0 contest at the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night. For a franchise with 50 years worth of tough times to its name, this was the worst lost in team history.
Despite the loss, the Mariners are still just 4.0 games back in the American League West at 59-67, and while the playoffs seem like a pipe dream, they are still within reach with 36 games to play.
In the offseason, the Mariners are headed for some difficult decisions, clearly: What do they do with manager Dan Wilson? Do they try to bring back Randy Arozarena, even on a qualifying offer? And how about J.P. Crawford?
How much money can they spend - or should they spend - given the labor uncertainty in the league?
But before they get to all of that? They have a tough decision brewing with top prospect Kade Anderson right now. Namely, will Anderson be entering the rotation for this weekend's series against the Chicago Cubs?
Let's examine a little deeper.
The Anderson file
The No. 3 pick in the MLB Draft just last year out of LSU, Anderson is putting together one of the greatest minor league seasons we've ever seen. In 18 starts for Double-A Arkansas, he's gone 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA. He's struck out 135 batters in 93.1 innings. He has a WHIP of just 0.64.
The Mariners undoubtedly wanted to retain his rookie eligibility in 2027, which likely has contributed to why he's stayed in the minors this long, but that deadline has passed. They are free to call him up at any time now with no impact on 2027.
One thing to note
Anderson has thrown 93.1 innings, as we said. He threw 120 innings at LSU last season. It seems likely that the Mariners want to get him beyond that - and then some this year.
Thus, if they bring him up, they likely want to do it as a starting pitcher, which will help push that innings count. Jerry Dipoto was adamant about him not being a reliever, at least before September.
LSU Tigers starting pitcher Kade Anderson (32) sits in the dugout between the eighth and ninth innings against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Charles Schwab Field. Steven Branscombe-Imagn ImagesOK - how does Bryan Woo factor in?
Woo got through six innings on Sunday in a 3-2 win over the Astros, but he left after 75 pitches and said he had "shoulder discomfort" after the start. I explained why I wouldn't be too worried about things, but if I'm wrong in that, Anderson could take his place on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
And how about Bryce Miller?
If the team is confident in Woo's health, perhaps they could look at moving Miller to the bullpen for the end of the season. I'll admit, I've been too conditioned to think of Bryce Miller as anything but a starter, and I remember his 2024 all too well, but perhaps he's wearing down and is better served as a reliever moving forward.
His velocity has dropped into the 94-96 range from the 97-98 range, and he's got an ERA of 5.52 over his last eight starts. He's seen his ERA raise from 1.71 to 3.71 in that time.
He clearly hasn't had it for more than a month. It doesn't mean he can't find it, but there's certainly going to be a conversation about if this team is better served with him in the bullpen and Anderson in the rotation.
And what about Emerson Hancock?
Hancock has thrown 128.0 innings this year. His career-high is 154.1 in 2024. While the Mariners likely aren't worried about his innings this year, there is a chance they could shelf him sometime in September if the team falls out of it, holding Anderson back to take his spot.
The Mariners will take on the Brewers again on Wednesday at 4:40 p.m. PT.
