
The Seattle Mariners are one day away from Game 1 of 162 of the 2026 season. The team is set to play the Cleveland Guardians in the first of a four-game series at 7:10 p.m. PT on Thursday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
The Mariners are entering this season with legitimate championship aspirations for the first time since the early-2000s after advancing to Game 7 of the American League Championship Series last year.
On Wednesday, Seattle announced the first 26-man roster for Opening Day, which featured very few surprises.
Here's an overview of the 26 players who will be in the dugout and on the field Thursday:
The Mariners will begin the season with two key starting-caliber players on the injured list.
Starting pitcher Bryce Miller will be out after suffering an oblique strain during spring training. He was on-pace to be ready for the beginning of the season but suffered a setback during a bullpen session that delayed his return.
Right-hander Emerson Hancock, who has been the team's No. 6 starter for several years, will step in for Miller. He's been on the Opening Day roster three seasons in a row due to injuries to starters Bryan Woo, George Kirby and Miller, respectively.
Starting shortstop JP Crawford will also have a delayed start to his season after suffering right shoulder inflammation toward the end of spring.
Seattle will begin the year with middle infielders Cole Young, Ryan Bliss and Leo Rivas all on the 26-man roster. The expectation is that Young will start at second and Rivas will start at shortstop in place for Crawford.
Young started two games this spring at shortstop and Bliss was the team's Opening Day starter at second last season, giving the M's options in the middle infield.
Offseason trade acquisition and 2025 All-Star Brendan Donovan is the Mariners' assumptive starter at third base. But his ability to play multiple positions, including the outfield, will give Seattle flexibility in its lineup construction.
Of all the players on the Mariners' 26-man roster, 22 of them appeared in a game for the team last year.
The four players who will suit up for the first time for Seattle are: Rob Refsnyder, Donovan, Jose Ferrer and Cooper Criswell.
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