Notebook: New Mariners reliever Wilcox has ‘opened some eyes’

The Seattle Mariners’ starting rotation will begin it’s third turn of the spring with Logan Gilbert on the hill Saturday against the Chicago White Sox in Peoria. As it was heading into camp, the only real question with the rotation is health. Will Bryce Miller be ready to take his turn, or will he need to be held back a bit after missing time with inflammation in his oblique?

3 Mariners Injury Updates: Brash, Miller, and now Robles

The bullpen, on the other hand, faces a number of questions, starting with who will fill what appears to be two open spots.

To date, the battle hasn’t been quite as tight among the group of players brought in to compete for a spot as hoped. Right-hander Cooper Criswell, who could work as a starter or reliever, can be left off that list for now, as he has impressed in his seven innings of work. Ditto for right-hander Cole Wilcox, a former San Diego Padres third-round draft pick out of the University of Georgia who has pitched an inning apiece in four games, allowing no runs, walking just one and striking out six.

“His stuff has been tremendous down here,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “He’s got the really good two-seamer that he throws hard. It’s a heavy sink to it. Yesterday, the slider was good. Effective against lefties too. When you’ve got that combination and you can handle lefties, that’s a huge feather in his cap. He is throwing the ball very, very well, and it has opened some eyes for sure.”

Wilcox, who the Mariners acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash last November, has managed to navigate his way through some of the spring training pitfalls that can occur in Arizona.

“It’s different down here,” Wilson acknowledged. “The ball carries a lot and it does not allow for a ton of movement off the mound traditionally. Every reliever can have a bad outing and it can look ugly.”

Bouncing back is important in those situations, and two relievers who are expected to be on the opening day roster fall into that category Saturday. Left-hander Jose Ferrer, who gave up three runs to the San Francisco Giants on Friday night, and right-hander Carlos Vargas, who surrendered five in the same game, are both scheduled to pitch.

Lineup!

Brendan Donovan, 3B
Rob Refsnyder, RF
Luke Raley, CF
Ryan Bliss, 2B
J.P. Crawford, DH
Mitch Garver, C
Connor Joe, 1B
Colt Emerson, SS
Rhylan Thomas, LF

Logan Gilbert, P

Notes

• Before the game against the White Sox, the Mariners announced they have re-assigned left-handed pitcher Austin Kitchen, outfielder Victor Labrada and right-handed pitcher Teddy McGraw to minor league camp, leaving the spring roster at 71 players.

• J.P. Crawford participated fully in infield drills Saturday morning and could return to shortstop Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers in Maryvale. Outfielder Victor Robles, who has been dealing with a sore shoulder, is expected to DH in that game.

• I received some questions about two-time All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz throwing in a non-save situation for Team Mexico in its World Baseball Classic matchup up against Great Britain on Friday. With Mexico up 8-1, Muñoz pitched the ninth inning, giving up a run on two hits and striking out two. While the Mariners hadn’t asked specifically that he pitch that day, he was likely inserted into the game because he was up in the previous inning, when the score was 4-1. He will be given two days off before being allowed to pitch again.

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