Mariners Game #22 Preview and Discussion: TEX at SEA, 4/18

SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 13: George Kirby #68 of the Seattle Mariners is seen on the field prior to the game between the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Monday, April 13, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Connor Jalbert/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images The Mariners will look to avoid dropping another series to the Rangers. The second game of the second series between the Mariners and Rangers begins Saturday at 4:15 p.m. on FOX. The Mariners were swept in Arlington last week. Then they swept the Astros over four games in Seattle. Then they were swept by the Padres in San Diego. And last night, they dropped the first game of the new series to the Rangers. The Mariners are now 8-13, having struggled to get going at the plate against everyone but the Astros’ putrid pitching. It gets no easier for the Mariners’ Saturday. The Rangers send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound, who struck out seven in their first matchup in a game the Mariners would lose 3-2. The Mariners are also without Brendan Donovan, who left last night’s game with a hip injury. Donovan is day-to-day, per Dan Wilson. Leo Rivas plays third and bats ninth. George Kirby takes the mound for the Mariners. He pitched against Eovaldi last time, too, with a home run to Kyle Higashioka the difference in that game. Kirby has generally been quite good this year, going 6 innings or more in each start with lots of ground balls and weak contact. In other Mariners news, Bryce Miller takes the mound tonight for Tacoma.