SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners are set to begin their regular season with the first of a four-game series against the Cleveland Guardians at 7:10 p.m. PT on Thursday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

The Mariners are entering this regular season with championship aspirations after advancing to Game 7 of the American League Championship Series last year.

Seattle was able to make the deepest postseason run in franchise history despite injuries to most of the rotation.

Four of the M's starters last season missed varying amounts of time due to respective injuries. This year, Bryce Miller is set to miss a portion of the year due to an oblique strain. He was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Emerson Hancock will fill in for Miller and is set to close out the series against Cleveland. Outside of the starting five of Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo, Hancock and Luis Castillo, another hurler on the staff could provide extra value to Seattle.

Right-handed pitcher Cooper Criswell was named to the 26-man roster Wednesday. He's likely slotted in a long-relief role but his presence on the roster gives the Mariners options.

The 29-year-old right-hander has made 45 appearances (21 starts) over the last five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. He has a career 4.48 ERA and has struck out 113 batters in 154.2 innings pitched.

This spring, his first with Seattle, he had a 2.51 ERA and fanned 16 hitters in 14.1 innings pitched across six outings (three starts).

The Mariners learned firsthand last season the value in having capable arms. Criswell's experience and capability as a starter and pitching multiple innings out of the bullpen can allow Seattle to go with bullpen days or spot starts to give the rotation an extra day of rest.

Criswell can also slot into the rotation if another starter goes down.

"That's certainly a plus," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said Wednesday. "A guy that's able to take multiple innings. He threw the ball extremely well in spring training and between him and Emerson, they both really had really strong outings and strong springs. (Criswell) has been in there. He's been in that role before, he understands what the role's all about. I think it does provide us a lot of depth. Particularly early in the season when your pitchers aren't as stretched out and you don't know what to expect going forward. I think we're in a really good spot."

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