Mariners-Phillies Preview: Injuries, standings and more

The Seattle Mariners will look to build on their recent of run of tepid success as the Philadelphia Phillies arrive at T-Mobile Park for a three-game series starting on Monday night.

The M’s have won six of their last 10 games, including an important series win over the AL West-leading Houston Astros, to stay in the playoff mix. They also took two of three over the weekend against the Cubs, walking off Chicago not once but twice before falling 19-2 on Sunday.

Seattle will have its work cut out yet again as it wraps up its homestand against a Phillies team that is currently the hottest team in baseball, having won nine straight.

The good news for the Mariners, though, is that Philadephia is one of its last tough opponents remaining on the schedule. Including the Phillies, only six of Seattle’s final 31 games are against teams that entered Monday with a winning record.

Here are some things to know for the M’s-Phillies series.

Key players for Philly

The Phillies have a trio of MLB leaders on their roster.

Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is the MLB leader with 39 home runs, second baseman Luis Arraez is baseball’s top hitter with a .322 average, and pitcher Cristopher Sanchez – who will not start in this series – is tied for the most wins at 16. Sanchez is also tied with teammate Jesús Luzardo – who is scheduled to start Wednesday – for fourth in MLB with 194 strikeouts.

The Mariners will want to avoid closer Jhoan Duran, who has a 1.75 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings and 28 saves. And Seattle can’t forget about Bryce Harper (26 homers, .879 OPS) looming in the middle of the Phillies lineup.

Injuries

Shortstop/third baseman J.P. Crawford could return for the Mariners after three games on a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. Crawford has been on the 10-day injured list with left wrist inflammation since late July, but he provided a good sign Saturday when he went 3 for 4 with a home run for the Raininers at Sacramento. Crawford had 10 homers in his first 54 games for Seattle this season, but he is on a 33-game drought of leaving the year, which started on June 5, the same day he was hit on the hand by a fastball in Detroit, which resulted in a previous stint on the IL.

Third baseman Brendan Donovan landed on the seven-day concussion IL on Sunday, a day after he was hit in the head in batting practice.

The Mariners also have relievers Cooper Criswell (shoulder) and Matt Brash (lat) working their way back on the 15-day IL. Criswell started a rehab assignment with Tacoma on Saturday, while Brash is a little farther behind in his rehab as he is scheduled to throw a live BP while the Mariners are still in Seattle this week for the Phillies series.

For Philadelphia, starting third baseman Bryson Stott is day-to-day after fouling a ball off his foot and leaving Sunday’s game against St. Louis. All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez left Saturday’s game with a hamstring cramps and only played Saturday to replace Stott. Outfielder Derek Hill is also day-to-day with neck stiffness.

The Phillies’ injured list currently includes relievers Tanner Banks (forearm), Caleb Killian (oblique) and Brad Keller (UCL tear), outfielders Johan Rojas (UCL) and Adolis García (lat), and catcher Rafael Marchán (knee). Keller, Rojas and García are all out for the season.

Standings

The Mariners are three games back of both first place in the AL West and the American League’s third and final wild card with their 62-69 record. The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are both 65-66, tying them for the AL West lead and the last wild card, the latter of which the Cleveland Guardians also have a claim to at 65-66. Between the Mariners and those teams in the wild card race, there are the Toronto Blue Jays (64-68), Minnesota Twins (63-68) and Baltimore Orioles (63-68).

AL West-leading Houston Astros part ways with GM Dana Brown

The Phillies have surged since they dismissed manager Rob Thomson in late April following a 9-19 start, with interim manager Don Mattingly leading them into position for the second wild card in the National League at 73-58 entering Monday. Philadelphia is two games back of the top wild card currently held by the Cubs, two games ahead of the third wild card team (San Diego), and four games up for a playoff berth. It is also just three games back of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves.

Brotherly love

Philadelphia’s scheduled starting pitcher on Tuesday is Aaron Nola. If that last name sounds familiar, it’s because Mariners bullpen coach – and former M’s catcher – Austin Nola is his older brother. The 36-year-old Austin Nola retired from his playing career to join the Mariners’ coaching staff in the offseason, while the 33-year-old Aaron Nola recently passed 2,000 strikeouts for his MLB career.

The Nola brothers aren’t the only relatives on opposing sides in this one. Rookie Phillies outfielder Justin Crawford, the son of former MLB All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford, is J.P. Crawford’s first cousin twice removed. Coincidentally, Justin Crawford was a first-round draft pick by Philadelphia in the 2022 MLB Draft, nine years after J.P. Crawford was drafted in the first round by the Phillies.

Game times and probable pitchers

• Monday, 6:40 p.m. – Phillies (Zach Wheeler, 10-9, 2.92 ERA) at Mariners (Logan Gilbert, 10-7, 3.35 ERA)

• Tuesday, 6:40 p.m. – Phillies (Aaron Nola, 5-9, 5.12 ERA) at Mariners (George Kirby, 8-10, 4.18 ERA)

• Wednesday, 1:10 p.m. – Phillies (Jesús Luzardo, 11-5, 3.35 ERA) at Mariners (TBD)

Mariners Radio Network coverage on Seattle Sports starting with the pregame show begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and noon Wednesday.

Seattle Mariners news and more

• Mariners’ Kade Anderson takes it all in before impressing in debut
• Randy Arozarena achieves rare feat in Mariners’ walkoff win
• Seattle Mariners Injuries: Updates on Bryan Woo, J.P. Crawford

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