PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Seattle Mariners lost their first Cactus League game of the season on Saturday, dropping a 10-5 contest against the San Francisco Giants. In disappointing fashion, the M's actually had a 5-0 lead in the first inning but failed to hold it.

While the Mariners pitched several minor league arms in the late innings, we did see appearances from multiple bullpen regulars, including Gabe Speier, Andres Munoz and Eduard Bazardo. Each of those three are going to pitch in the World Baseball Classic in March, so they are ramping up early.

Munoz gave up two doubles, though one of them was partially aided by the sun, allowing one run. He also registered two strikeouts. Velocity-wise, Munoz was between 96-99 mph on his fastball and 82-84 on his slider. The slider was most often at 84, which we saw a decent amount of in 2025.

The right-hander is an excellent reliever coming off back-to-back All-Star Game appearances, so there's really no "worries" about him going into 2026, but it's noteworthy that his velocities have continued to drop over the last few seasons.

In 2022: Munoz's fastball averaged 100.2 mph. In 2023, it was 99.2, then 98.4 and 98.4. The slider has dropped as well. In 2022 it was 88.6, then 88.4, then 87.6, then 86.1.

There's no need to overreact to spring training velocities in the first outing, but the decreased slider velocities are clearly a trend. If the slider is slower and loopier, it becomes easier to hit. Easier to hit is a problem for the Mariners.

Manager Dan Wilson was asked about Munoz's slider velocity and where he ultimately wants to see that pitch:

I ​mean, ​he'll ​continue ​to ​find ​what ​he ​needs ​to ​from ​that ​pitch. ​And ​I ​thought ​his ​fastball ​velo ​was ​pretty ​good. ​And ​it ​is ​where ​it ​needs ​to ​be. ​And ​he ​continues ​to ​find ​the ​feel ​for ​that ​slider. ​And ​that's ​what ​this ​is ​for ​down ​here. ​And ​I ​know ​he's ​trying ​to ​ramp ​up ​pretty ​quickly, ​and ​he's ​got ​a ​couple ​more ​outings, ​so ​just ​hope, ​you ​know, ​he ​continues ​to ​put ​that ​work ​in ​and ​find ​it.

The Mariners are back in action on Sunday afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds (12:10 p.m. PT). It's the first road game of the spring for the Mariners, who will play in Goodyear, Ariz.

The Reds are coming off a season in which they finished third in the National League Central and made the playoffs.

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