Mariners series preview: Colorado Rockies

Pitching matchups, X factors, and picks to click for your Seattle Mariners in a matchup against the Rockies.

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The Mariners will head home to T-Mobile Park after a disappointing 3-3 road trip with a few bright spots. Jarred Kelenic is coming off the biggest series of his young career and will be in the lineup tonight for the Mariners against a left handed arm.

Teoscar Hernández and Kolten Wong also showed some signs of heating up on the road trip, which could very well signal a big offensive series coming against a notoriously average Rockies’ staff.

Pitching Matchups

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We all know the Colorado Rockies traditionally struggle on the mound, and things haven’t changed this season for the National League West cellar dwellers. While their pitching is certainly better away from their home ballpark, Seattle should have the advantage in this series.

Friday: Tommy Milone (LHP) vs. Austin Gomber (LHP) 

Saturday: George Kirby (RHP) vs. Ryan Feltner (RHP)

Sunday: Luis Castillo (RHP) vs. TBD

Game 1 will be the most interesting of the bunch, as Seattle starter Marco Gonzales heads to the paternity list in advance of the birth of his second child. 36-year-old left-hander Tommy Milone gets the ball in his place tonight at T-Mobile Park.

Milone is in his third stint with the Mariners and has been a consistent depth piece and spot starter that the organization has shelved in Tacoma for situations like this. The crafty lefty is the epitome of a spot starter, coming off a 5.40 ERA for Seattle last season.

He isn’t the sexiest option, but there’s a reason why he is still in the organization. The left-hander is crafty and knows how to get enough outs to get by.

He will face fellow lefty Austin Gomber. The former Cardinal farmhand owns an ERA above 9 this season at home, but a 4.50 ERA on the road. Opponents are hitting just .182 against Gomber on the road, and he is especially effective against left-handed hitters.

Seattle will need a big effort from their lefty killers, A.J. Pollock and Teoscar Hernández.

George Kirby will take the ball on Saturday against right-hander Ryan Feltner. Feltner is little more than an average starter at best and posted a 5.83 ERA in 93 innings last season.

Kirby should have a considerable advantage here, and Seattle’s staff should have the upper hand in general.

Mariners’ ace Luis Castillo will go on Sunday against Colorado's number one rotation spot, previously held by German Marquez. Marquez hit the IL earlier this week with a forearm issue.

X Factors

The X factor for this series lies in tonight’s matchup and Seattle manager Scott Servais. With Tommy Milone taking the ball tonight for Seattle, it will be interesting to see how the Mariners set up this series with their pitching staff.

In the past Milone has been asked to go somewhere between 3-5 innings, and if he can keep the game close Servais has a decision to make. Coming off nearly two off days for this bullpen unit, Seattle could elect to go with more of a bullpen day.

They have done this in the past, using Milone as the “bulk guy” instead of a traditional starter.

This would put more emphasis on the starters in games two and three, needing Kirby and Castillo to help out the bullpen. How Servais manages the bullpen and if the Mariners are able to steal game one will set up this series, and that is why it is the biggest X factor.

BR’s picks to click

My pick to click for this series is Seattle center fielder Julio Rodríguez. The 22 year old superstar has been a terror for opponents out of the leadoff spot, but struggled mightily in the series against the Cubs.

Rodríguez is leading off in Friday’s matchup, and my official prediction is a leadoff blast for the star outfielder. He has been excellent at home so far this season, and that will continue against a dismal Rockies’ pitching staff.