The Seattle Mariners are coming off an impressive (and much-needed) 9-2 win against the Athletics, which took place on Monday at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Calif.

The Mariners pulled to within 1.5 games of the A's for first place in the American League West standings. Seattle will need to win the final two games of the series to jump the Athletics for the top spot in the division.

Luckily for Seattle, the team will get one of its most effective relievers back for the final two games of the series.

Left-handed reliever Gabe Speier has been on the injured list since May 4 (retroactive to May 3) due to left shoulder inflammation. He made two rehab appearances, one with the High-A Everett AquaSox and another with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, in the past week. He traveled with the Mariners to Sacramento, Calif., for the series against the Athletics.

Speier was activated off the injured list hours before game two of the series Tuesday. Right-handed pitcher Nick Davila was optioned to Tacoma with a post-game designated (May 25) in a corresponding move.

Davila, who was in his first stint in the big leagues, had a 2.00 ERA and struck out 10 hitters in nine innings pitched across eight outings.

Speier has been the team's go-to left-handed relievers for the better part of two seasons now.

Last year, in which the Mariners advanced to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2001, Speier had a 2.61 ERA and struck out 82 hitters in 62 innings pitched across 76 appearances. He also received an invitation to compete in the 2026 World Baseball Classic in the spring.

Speier has posted generally the same stats this season, albeit with a lower strikeout rate and higher allowed batting average. He boasts a 2.92 ERA and has fanned 12 hitters in 12.1 innings of work 15 outings.

Opposing batters averaged .192 against Speier in '25 compared to .298 against him this year.

Having Speier back gives the M's multiple high-leverage southpaws, which the team envisioned when it acquired fellow lefty Jose A. Ferrer in a trade with the Washington Nationals this prior offseason.

Ferrer has lived up to the expectations Seattle had when it dealt top 100 prospect Harry Ford for him. Ferrer has a career-best 1.88 ERA and has struck out 22 hitters in 24 innings pitched across 26 appearances.

The Mariners will hope having Speier and Ferrer will keep the bullpen healthy while being able to maintain favorable matchups against opposing lineups.

The freshly-healthy Speier and Seattle will take on the Athletics in game two of the three-game series at 6:40 p.m. PT on Tuesday at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento.

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