Mariners-Brewers Preview: Injuries, lineups and more details

The only two MLB franchises to ever call Seattle home are set for three games this week starting Tuesday, and they’re in very different spots going in.

The Seattle Mariners are trying to put together a run that can get them back in playoff position following a dreadful past month and change. And the Milwaukee Brewers, who were originally the Seattle Pilots for a lone season in 1969, have the best record in all of baseball at 77-48, posing a gigantic challenge for their successors in the Emerald City.

The good news is the Mariners (59-66) are coming off three wins in their last four games, and they just played one of their best offensive series of the year to take two of three from the Houston Astros. Not only that, but the M’s have lucked out in avoiding Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski, the most dominant pitcher in the game and the easy frontrunner to win the NL Cy Young Award. The 24-year-old Misiorowski (12-5, 1.75 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 210 strikeouts) pitched on Saturday, holding the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to a single run over six innings.

The Mariners don’t necessarily have it easy even with Misiorowski out of the picture this week, though. Seattle ranks near the bottom in most offensive categories against left-handed pitching this year, and they’ll have to contend with a pair of southpaws in Kyle Harrison (3.99 ERA) on Tuesday and Robert Gasser (4.54 ERA) on Thursday. Right-hander Dustin May will start the game in between on Wednesday for Milwaukee.

The M’s have a good trio going on the mound in the Midwest, at least. Bryce Miller (3.39 ERA) gets the ball first, followed by Logan Gilbert (3.28 ERA) on Wednesday and George Kirby (3.89 ERA) on Thursday.

Injuries and lineups

The Brewers are without starting right fielder Sal Frelick (right shoulder strain) and shortstop Cooper Pratt (right hamstring strain), with both currently on the 10-day injured list. Relievers Abner Uribe (right forearm flexor strain) and JoJo Romero (appendectomy) are also on the 15-day IL. Standout second baseman Brice Turang (.806 OPS) is back in the lineup in the leadoff spot after missing four games with left knee pain.

Back in MKE

📺: https://t.co/vfk4xUdTIA
📻: WTMJ

→ https://t.co/bxFoZpT8Cf pic.twitter.com/840GcXUeRn

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 18, 2026

The Mariners have two of their right field options dealing with injury woes. Trade deadline addition Taylor Ward is out of the lineup for a fifth straight game with leg soreness, but Victor Robles is back in after missing Sunday’s game a day after injuring his shoulder on a diving catch attempt. Relievers Carlos Vargas and Matt Brash, who both have right lat strains, are still working their way back from the 15-day injured list.

Seattle is thin on the left side of the infield with J.P. Crawford recently being joined by rookie Colt Emerson on the 10-day IL. They each have left wrist inflammation. Rookie Brock Rodden is starting at shortstop Tuesday for the fourth straight game since being called up on Friday.

Kicking off our series against the Brew Crew in Milwaukee 🍻 pic.twitter.com/7lpV8JQHB9

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 18, 2026

Old friend

Former Mariners outfielder Jake Bauers is enjoying a strong season as Milwaukee’s first baseman. At one point a top prospect with Tampa Bay, Bauers has bounced around in seven MLB seasons but has seemingly found a home with the Brewers. This season he is slashing .275/.384/.500 for an .884 OPS with a career-high 21 home runs, 70 RBIs and 2.4 bWAR. Bauers played 72 games with Seattle in 2021.

Standings

The Mariners (59-66) enter Tuesday two games out of the third and final wild card in the AL, which is currently in a three-way tie between Baltimore, Texas and Detroit, who all have 61-64 records. There are also three teams in between the M’s and that wild card spot. Seattle is in third place in the AL West, four games back of first-place Houston (63-62).

The Brewers are up by 4 1/2 games for the NL Central lead over the Chicago Cubs.

Wild card standings | Division standings

The games

• Game 1 (Tuesday) – 4:40 p.m. first pitch; Mariners Radio Network pregame show on Seattle Sports starts at 3:30 p.m.

• Game 2 (Wednesday) – 4:40 p.m. first pitch; Mariners Radio Network pregame show on Seattle Sports starts at 3:30 p.m.

• Game 3 (Thursday) – 11:10 a.m. first pitch; Mariners Radio Network pregame show on Seattle Sports starts at 10 a.m.

How to listen to Mariners Radio Network broadcasts

Up next

The Mariners continue their nine-game swing through interleague play when they return home Friday to start a three-game series with the Cubs, followed by three more games with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Seattle Mariners news and more

• Morosi on Mariners’ Colt Emerson: ‘The book is not closed’
• Notebook: Brock Rodden’s impressive debut; pitcher added on claim
• Dipoto details Seattle Mariners’ plan for Colt Emerson’s injury

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