After their one and only off day of the spring, the Mariners hit the road to take on the Guardians in Goodyear on Thursday with just 13 Cactus League games to go before it all counts.

Why the Mariners are giving Julio Rodríguez a long look in CF

Plenty to look at in Game 6 – first and foremost, Logan Gilbert’s first start of the spring.

What to look for? Keep an eye on Gilbert’s breaking pitches. His player plan for the offseason included refining the slider and curve. The fastball? It’s still elite, thank you very much, although I am curious to see the velocity after watching him touch 98 mph in his first live BP. Gilbert will be on a 50-55 pitch count.

Did somebody say lineup?

Lineup!

Adam Frazier, 2B
Ty France, 1B
Jesse Winker, LF
Mitch Haniger, RF
Eugenio Suárez, 3B
J.P. Crawford, SS
Abraham Toro, DH
Jarred Kelenic, CF
Tom Murphy, C

Logan Gilbert, SP

Hmm. Needs more Julio, but this looks like a lineup.

Mariners notes

• Gilbert is off to a bit of a late start in games and as such will get no more than three Cactus League starts. For those of you trying to figure out the rotation order, Marco Gonzales is scheduled to make his second start Friday against the White Sox.

• The roster split saga continues with Mariners manager Scott Servais saying Thursday morning that it looks like on May 1, MLB will go to the 13/13 rule with clubs being limited to no more than 13 pitchers. Servais has expressed his displeasure for the rule, believing managers should be allowed to make up their rosters as they see fit. His preference would be to go with the extra arm instead of a 13th position player, but it looks like instead we will see a four-man bench.

• Veteran reliever Sergio Romo will be part of the mix as his signing is now official.

El Mechón is coming to the Emerald City! 🙌

We have signed RHP Sergio Romo to a 1-year contract. #SeaUsRise

🔗 https://t.co/Mv1dFvgFy6 pic.twitter.com/Mv85s2cvUk

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 24, 2022

• Hard-throwing 23-year-old reliever Andrés Muñoz, who was slow to get to camp due to visa issues, should make his spring debut in the next few games.

“His live BP was electric,” said Servais. “As good a live BP I have ever seen. Stuff was great, breaking ball was sharp. I expect him in a game in the next few days.”

• Reliever Joey Gerber, who missed the majority of last year with back issues, has been shut down after suffering a mild forearm strain following a live BP. He was throwing well in camp and is expected to resume playing catch soon.

• Roenis Elías, yet another bullpen option, will throw his first live BP for the Mariners in the next couple of days since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. When healthy, both Gerber and Elías should provide good depth for the Mariners ‘pen.

Scott Servais: Mariners’ Jarred Kelenic in great place for 2022

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