SEATTLE MARINERS

See the Mariners’ lineup for Game 1 of 162 vs the Oakland A’s in Japan

Mar 19, 2019, 9:24 PM

Dee Gordon and Mitch Haniger will be the first two batters of the Mariners' season. (Getty)...

Dee Gordon and Mitch Haniger will be the first two batters of the Mariners' season. (Getty)

(Getty)

The Seattle Mariners’ first lineup of the 2019 Major League Baseball season is here.

Mariners set 28-man roster for opening series vs Oakland A’s

It’s been a long offseason, so let’s get right to it.

Mariners (0-0)

Dee Gordon, 2B
Mitch Haniger, CF
Jay Bruce, 1B
Edwin Encarnación, DH
Domingo Santana, LF
Omar Narváez, C
Ryon Healy, 3B
Tim Beckham, SS
Ichiro, RF

Marco Gonzales, LHP

It sure has a different look than a season ago. Only four players remain from the Mariners’ 2018 Opening Day lineup, and none of them are playing the same position they did last year.

• Mitch Haniger is in center field instead of right as the Mariners make due with Mallex Smith still working his way back from an arm injury.

• Dee Gordon is back at his customary second base following last year’s experiment in the outfield.

• Ryon Healy will play third base instead of first due to Kyle Seager opening the year on the injured list while he recovers from hand surgery.

• Ichiro, who was in left field to begin the 2018 season, moves to right with Haniger in center. And to be fair, it really helps with the whole coming-full-circle thing as he begins his 27th pro baseball season playing the position he’s most known for.

Also notable is three-time All-Star Jay Bruce hitting third after a strong spring. The 32-year-old former Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and New York Mets star has hit 20 or more home runs in nine of his 11 MLB seasons, but he is coming off the worst year of his career in which he hampered by injuries, posting a .223/.310./.370 slash line and nine homers in 94 games.

Veteran slugger Edwin Encarnación, an offseason acquisition from Cleveland, is in the cleanup spot as he begins the year looking for his eighth straight season of 30 or more homers. Following him in the order is Domingo Santana, who Seattle picked up in a trade with Milwaukee and has appeared this spring to be primed to bounce back to the form of his breakout 2017 season.

On the mound is Marco Gonzales, sporting a new No. 7 on the back of his uniform (he was previously No. 32, but he wore 7 in college at Gonzaga). This is the first career Opening Day start for the 26-year-old left-hander, ending a Mariners-record streak of 10 straight Opening Day starts by Félix Hernández.

Here’s what the Oakland A’s, who will be the home team in the two-game series, will look like in the Tokyo Dome on Wednesday.

Athletics (0-0)

Ramón Laureano, CF
Matt Chapman, 3B
Stephen Piscotty, RF
Khris Davis, DH
Chad Pinder, LF
Matt Olson, 1B
Jurickson Profar, 2B
Marcus Semien, SS
Nick Hundley, C

Mike Fiers, RHP

Coverage of Mariners-Athletics begins on 710 ESPN Seattle at 1:30 a.m. with the pregame show, with first pitch set for 2:35 a.m. Streaming is available on 710Sports.com and the 710 ESPN Seattle app, but only within our terrestrial radio range in western Washington due to MLB restrictions.

More Mariners coverage

Drayer: Ichiro’s last 10 months have led up to a 27th pro season
Drayer: Mariners’ Braden Bishop making himself into more than 4th OF
Moore: Mariners shouldn’t be hanging on to past as they enter rebuild season
Ichiro, Haniger, Freitas provide highlights as M’s win final exhibition

Mariners Roof Report

Brought to you by
Rain Showers
High 52° | Low 42°
Roof is open
Red Sox at Mariners today at 7:10pm

Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners roster J.P. Crawford...

Brent Stecker

Seattle Mariners announce opening day 26-man roster

The Seattle Mariners have announced their 26-man roster for opening day of the 2024 season as well as players starting on the IL.

1 hour ago

Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh...

Shannon Drayer

Mariners’ young core, now veterans, fueled by last year’s letdown

Falling back can be a part of growing up, and for the once young core of the Seattle Mariners, it is now part of their DNA.

2 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Mitch Haniger...

Mike Salk

Salk: Scars remain as Mariners return, but hope isn’t far away

As the Seattle Mariners return for 2024, Seattle Sports' Mike Salk writes about seasons, scars, frustration, hope and baseball.

17 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Bryce Miller Logan Gilbert Bryan Woo...

Brandon Gustafson

Dontrelle Willis: Mariners’ rotation provides ‘quality every single day’

Dontrelle Willis, a former MLB pitcher and current analyst for FOX Sports, gives his Seattle Mariners insight ahead of opening day.

20 hours ago

Seattle Mariners commercials Julio Rodríguez...

Brent Stecker

Latest Mariners commercial teams Julio up with a franchise icon

Add a new duo to the list of great pairings in Seattle Mariners commercials, with All-Star outfielder Julio Rodríguez joined by a team icon.

23 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh...

Shannon Drayer

Why Mariners hitters are embracing new approach to offense

The Seattle Mariners have new players, new coaches and new messaging for their offense. Based on spring training, it's all landing.

24 hours ago

See the Mariners’ lineup for Game 1 of 162 vs the Oakland A’s in Japan