The Seattle Mariners will try for the sixth time this season to move back above .500 after earning a dramatic walk-off win Friday night in front of more than 44,000 fans. Seattle enters the game with momentum and will send right-hander Bryan Woo to the mound, hoping he can extend the strong form he showed in his last two starts. The Arizona Diamondbacks will counter with right-hander Ryne Nelson.
Seattle’s lineup includes some notable catching and batting-order decisions as the club continues to manage its roster health and matchup strategy. Mitch Garver is starting behind the plate for the Mariners despite Nelson being a right-handed pitcher. That move reflects the ongoing split workload between Garver and Jhonny Pereda while Cal Raleigh continues to recover from an oblique injury. The Mariners also kept Cole Young in the sixth spot in the order, just above Dominic Canzone, a setup that appears aimed at separating platoon bats and creating more favorable matchups throughout the lineup.
The Diamondbacks initially appeared set to use Nolan Arenado at third base after he was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning of the previous game in a scary-looking moment. However, Arizona later scratched Arenado from the lineup. José Fernández will take over at third base and bat eighth. The rest of the Diamondbacks’ order remains largely unchanged, though Gabriel Moreno moves into the cleanup spot and Adrian Del Castillo will hit fifth. Those adjustments give Arizona a slightly different look in the middle of the lineup while still keeping most of its original structure intact.
For Seattle, the game offers another chance to build on a timely win and continue climbing in the standings. The Mariners have shown signs of resilience in close games, and Woo’s start adds importance to a matchup that could help stabilize their season position. For Arizona, the late lineup change underscores the need to adapt quickly after a difficult night, while still trying to maintain offensive balance against a pitcher who has been effective recently.
Both teams enter with reasons for optimism and questions to answer. Seattle is trying to turn a spirited home victory into a short run of consistency, while Arizona must navigate an altered lineup and the uncertainty that comes with injury concerns. With two right-handers on the mound and several roster decisions shaping the matchup, the game carries significance for both clubs as they look to gain traction and keep pace in a competitive stretch of the season.
