SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners will look to pull to even on the season and against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 2 of a four-game series at 6:45 p.m. PT on Friday at T-Mobile Park.

It will be just the second game of the season for the Mariners, but their bullpen is already in an interesting position.

Seattle used both high left-handed relievers, Jose Ferrer and Gabe Speier, in its 6-4 loss against Cleveland on Thursday. Right-hander Carlos Vargas was placed on the 15-day injured list ahead of Game 2 of the series Friday. Ferrer threw 0.2 innings and faced four batters Thursday and Speier threw an inning and faced six hitters, respectively.

The Mariners preserved high-leverage righties Eduard Bazardo and Matt Brash and All-Star closer Andres Munoz for Game 2 of the series but are waiting to see as to which, if either, of the southpaws will be available.

The trio of Bazardo, Brash and Munoz all registered ERAs of 2.52 or lower last season.

"When they get a chance to throw, we'll be able to tell a little more," Seattle manager Dan Wilson said in a pregame interview Friday. "Hopefully, if not both, maybe one of them will be available tonight. We'll just kind of see how it rolls. That's the beauty of our bullpen. It's deep and we have a lot of good arms down there."

There's a risk running back out either Speier or Ferrer (or any reliever used Thursday). Ideally, the Mariners would like to avoid overusing any bullpen arm, especially just two games deep into a 162-game season.

A long outing from starting pitcher George Kirby, who's making his season debut Friday, would also alleviate some of the pressure of having to send out Ferrer or Speier for a second-straight day.

"I think a big part of (Kirby's) spring was obviously making the physical adjustments but I think mental adjustments, as well," Wilson said. "And just some maturity and the things that he has gone through. We talked about the postseason being a big experience-giver. That's something you learn from. I think George has done a really nice side on the mental side of the game. Really putting things together and (we're) definitely seeing the benefits of that."

Friday will mark Kirby's first start on the opening series of the season in two years. He missed the first two months of the season in 2025 due to right shoulder inflammation.

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