Mariners Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller could pitch in Game 5
by Adam Jude · The Seattle TimesGeorge Kirby will start on the mound for the Mariners in Game 5 of the ALDS on Friday.
After that, several other Mariners starters could be available in a relief role. Luis Castillo is on four days’ rest, and is the most likely of the other starters to be used out of the bullpen, while Logan Gilbert (the Game 3 starter) and Bryce Miller (Game 4) could also be in play.
“It is all hands on deck,” M’s manager Dan Wilson said pregame Friday. “You want to do everything you can to see another day. So I suspect Logan and The Rock and even Bryce Miller are probably down in the bullpen tonight available and ready to pitch.
“I know these guys want the ball in these situations, and it’s exciting. This is what this time of year is all about, and these guys are ready for the moment.”
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Hinch on Raleigh: ‘I watch everything this guy does’
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, in his final news conference before Game 5, was asked about what he has come to appreciate about Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh during this ALDS.
Hinch, a former big-league catcher, gave a long and eloquent answer.
“I’m glad this is the last game I have to deal with Cal because he’s a real threat from both sides of the plate,” Hinch said. “But I think his ability to stay in the moment is different than others around the league. His ability to separate offense and defense is elite. He is getting beat up by these balls in the dirt, and he just asks for more.
“He obviously hits in the first inning, so when we were at home, I was watching his routine as to when he leaves the starting pitcher to get ready for his at-bat, which is the official changeover from the defensive mindset to the offensive mindset. I watch everything this guy does because he’s put together a historic season even amongst the expectations rising.
“Obviously, we’d love for him to have a quiet night. I’ll congratulate him on his season after the game. I respect the way he goes about it, not just what he does. The homers, the durability, constantly in the lineup speaks for itself. But the way he does it I think garners the respect he deserves.”
Mariners announce Game 5 lineup
The Mariners are running it back with the same lineup for Game 5 as the last time they faced Tigers ace Tarik Skubal earlier in the American League Division Series.
That means right-handed batting Mitch Garver is in as the designated hitter instead of left-handed hitting Dominic Canzone to face the lefty-throwing Skubal for the decisive game of the ALDS.
Garver went 1 for 3 with a strikeout and a single off Skubal in the M’s 3-2 win in Game 2.
The top four batters in the M’s lineup remained the same: Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez and Jorge Polanco. Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor flipped spots in the order from the past two games, with Suárez hitting fifth and Naylor sixth.
Here’s the full lineup for Game 5 behind starting pitcher George Kirby:
- Randy Arozarena, LF
- Cal Raleigh, C
- Julio Rodríguez, CF
- Jorge Polanco, 2B
- Eugenio Suárez, 3B
- Josh Naylor, 1B
- Mitch Garver, DH
- Victor Robles, RF
- J.P. Crawford, SS