Mariners manager Scott Servais reiterated Friday afternoon that the club isn’t ready to name its Opening Day starting pitcher — but that decision is coming.
“We’re getting closer to the end of the week,” he said. “We’re getting closer to making that call.”
Candidates are Felix Hernandez, who has opened the past 10 seasons for Seattle, or lefty Marco Gonzales for the 2019 season opener against Oakland on March 20 in Japan. And don’t count out Yusei Kikuchi from starting one of those two games.
While the Mariners close in on that decision, their pitchers were also enjoying the lowest collective ERA of any of the 15 teams in Cactus League play entering Friday night’s outing against the Chicago Cubs.