ALDS Game 3: Lineups for Mariners’ 1st home playoff game in 21 years

The Mariners have returned to T-Mobile Park for the first time in over a week, but more importantly have brought the postseason back with them.

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George Kirby is set to take the mound for Seattle against Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. for Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Saturday afternoon in what will be the first playoff game at the Mariners’ home ballpark since 2001.

The M’s lineup is standard to what they’ve relied upon in their four postseason games thus far. Slugging catcher Cal Raleigh returns to the cleanup spot with a right-hander on the mound after being dropped in the order in Game 2 when Houston started southpaw Framber Valdez. Jarred Kelenic gets the start in left field and hits eighth, leaving Dylan Moore on the bench to be deployed as a pinch-hitter should a lefty reliever come into the game for Houston.

The Astros’ lineup has Trey Mancini at designated hitter and Chas McCormick in center field after they both sat out Game 2.

Kirby, a rookie, is set for his first start of the postseason. He picked up the save in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series against Toronto in what is so far his lone relief appearances in the big leagues. He’s had a full week to prepare for this start following that inning of relief.

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McCullers, 29, has a long history of success against the Mariners. The one-time All-Star has a 2.80 ERA, 1.146 WHIP and a rate of 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 18 career starts against Seattle. He’s been even better against the M’s at T-Mobile Park with a 2.66 ERA, 1.086 WHIP and 11 strikeouts per nine in nine outings in Seattle.

Coverage of the game is being carried on Seattle Sports 710 AM, the flagship station of the Mariners Radio Network, with the entire M’s broadcast crew including Rick Rizzs, Aaron Goldsmith, Dave Sims and analyst Mike Blowers calling the game. First pitch is set for 1:07 p.m., with the pregame show hosted by Shannon Drayer starting at noon. Extended pregame coverage started on Seattle Sports at 10 a.m. with host Bob Stelton joined by Mariners analyst and former MLB pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith live at Hatback Bar & Grille, which is on the other side of Dave Niehaus Way across the street from T-Mobile Park.

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Game 3 is do or die for Seattle after falling behind two games to none to the AL West champion Astros in the best-of-five series.

Here are the lineups for both the M’s and Astros on Saturday.

Mariners lineup

Julio Rodríguez, CF
Ty France, 1B
Eugenio Suárez, 3B
Cal Raleigh, C
Mitch Haniger, RF
Carlos Santana, DH
Adam Frazier, 2B
Jarred Kelenic, LF
J.P. Crawford, SS

George Kirby, SP

Astros lineup

Jose Altuve, 2B
Jeremy Peña, SS
Yordan Alvarez, LF
Alex Bregman, 3B
Kyle Tucker, RF
Yuli Gurriel, 1B
Trey Mancini, DH
Chas McCormick, CF
Martín Maldonado, C

Lance McCullers Jr., SP

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