Mariners face – After Bryan Woo helped the Mariners beat the White Sox yesterday, Seattle turns the page to today’s matchup with Anthony Kay on the mound—plus a pitching shuffle that puts Bryce Miller in the starting role and moves Luis Castillo to the bullpen for the first t
The moment Bryan Woo finished his work yesterday, it didn’t just end a win—it set up the next test.
The Mariners defeated the White Sox yesterday, leaning on Woo’s strong performance and finding just enough offense against White Sox lefty starter Noah Schultz. Then Colt Emerson broke the game open, taking over after the earlier pitching and pressure that had kept Seattle in the fight.
Today, though, the Mariners aren’t walking into a repeat of the same problem. The next challenge has a familiar shape: Anthony Kay takes the mound for the White Sox.
Last time these two teams faced off, the Mariners hitters couldn’t solve Kay’s changeup. They struck out five times in five innings, and they didn’t manage to punish him despite two walks. That combination—whiffs on the changeup. no real damage after free passes—is exactly what makes this matchup feel like more than “another game” for Seattle. It’s the same pitcher, the same pitch profile, and the same pressure to stop chasing.
Seattle’s plan on the pitching side also looks different this time.
Instead of keeping Luis Castillo in his usual starting rhythm. the Mariners will be switching things up: Bryce Miller will be the starter. while Luis Castillo will work out of the bullpen for the first time in his career. The reason for that change has already been tied to the last meeting between the clubs, too. In their previous matchup. Castillo gave up two two-run homers. and now the bullpen role changes both the matchup math and how late-in-the-game opportunities are managed.
The lineup adjustments match the White Sox decision to bring another lefty. With yet another left-handed starter expected, the Mariners are pulling out their righty lineup.
J.P. Crawford gets a day off. Emerson moves to shortstop, and it’s a big moment: his first big-league start at the position. Righty Patrick Wisdom will handle third, making his first MLB start since September 28, 2024. The hope is simple and direct—Wisdom can cover the job at third while Emerson gets the chance to deal with anything hit to the left side.
There’s a clear through-line connecting all of it. A win built on Woo’s strong performance and timely offense now has Seattle facing the one pitching element that stung them last time—a changeup they couldn’t time. At the same time. the Mariners are reshaping roles on both sides of the ball: Bryce Miller into the start spot. Luis Castillo into the bullpen for the first time in his career. and Emerson and Wisdom into new defensive responsibilities.
The game’s availability is straightforward, but the atmosphere won’t be. Mariners fans will be listening and watching for whether Seattle can do what it failed to do against Kay last time: turn swing-and-miss into contact, and turn those two walks into more than just extra base runners.
Today’s game information:
TV: Mariners TV with Aaron Goldsmith and Angie Mentink, with Ryan Rowland-Smith as field reporter
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.
Mariners White Sox Anthony Kay Bryan Woo Noah Schultz Colt Emerson J.P. Crawford Patrick Wisdom Bryce Miller Luis Castillo MLB lineup
Why is Castillo suddenly in the bullpen like he’s broken? lol
I didn’t even know who Anthony Kay was until this. Mariners always strike out when the other team throws that weird changeup I swear. Also Bryce Miller starting seems like a random shuffle.
So they beat the White Sox and now it’s another White Sox pitcher, cool. But if Seattle couldn’t hit Kay last time then Castillo in the bullpen won’t magically fix it. they said something about changeup and only 2 walks?? that’s brutal.
This reads like the Mariners are scared to keep Castillo starting. Didn’t he give up like two homers before? maybe the changeup thing is a cover story and they’re just trying to protect his arm or whatever. Either way I feel like Woo’s win shouldn’t matter that much if they’re still gonna chase pitches. Just win the game.