Mariners Notebook: M’s roll out 1st lineup of the year for spring opener vs Padres

PEORIA, Ariz. – At long last, a Mariners LINEUP!

Crawford, SS
Winker, LF
France, 1B
Haniger, RF
Kelenic, CF
Suárez, 3B
Toro, DH
Frazier. 2B
Murphy, C

Gonzales, SP

Julio Rodríguez: Working on CF, pushing for opening day spot

The Cactus League opener, Game 1 of the spring. Or, as my editor puts it, -18.

Mariners vs. Padres in Peoria and there you go, we have baseball.

So about that lineup, it is far too soon to read anything into it.

“It will probably change daily,” said Mariners manager Scott Servais. “It’s an interesting lineup. It has a much different look as last year’s did. I’m anxious to see how it comes together.”

As per regular springs, the starters will not stay in the game long. The first game is all about players getting their legs under them. Servais admitted that with a shortened spring schedule. the Mariners will have to pick up the pace quicker than they have in the past, but in the case of the hitters the belief is it should be no problem getting enough at bats before the start of the season.

It is the pitchers who benefit from the longer spring schedules and they will be watched carefully as they build up. Marco Gonzales is scheduled to go 3 innings if his pitch count allows, something you normally do not see in a game one. Most starters will be allowed to do the same as they prepared accordingly leading up to camp.

The game against the Padres can be heard on Seattle Sports 710 at 1:10 pm.

Notes:

• Also scheduled to pitch today, Matt Festa, Travis Kuhn and Devin Sweet, who has what Baseball America ranks as the best changeup in the Mariners farm system.

• The upcoming pitching probables have yet to be officially announced but you can pencil in:

Saturday: Levi Stoudt
Sunday: Chris Flexen
Monday: George Kirby/Matt Brash

• We’ve had our first report of a ding or dent in camp as Servais told the media in Peoria Friday morning that Casey Sadler has been slowed in camp as he works through “some things shoulder-wise.”

• We have a rule change for spring games. Teams will no longer be permitted to roll innings if a pitcher is struggling. They will be able to lift the pitcher and have him re-enter the game however.

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