Mariners give Mitch Garver start at catcher to try to get his bat going

Photo by Bailey Orr/Texas Rangers/Getty ImagesWhen the Mariners acquired Mitch Garver to be their designated hitter this off-season, the understanding was they’d trade out Garver’s high strikeout percentage for his double-digit homer totals, as well as his above-average walk rate. So far an above-average amount of walks is about all Seattle’s gotten from the DH spot, with Garver scuffling to hit for average or power while striking out more than ever in his career (excepting the pandemic-shortened season).

Today the Mariners, in an attempt to get Garver’s bat going, are giving him his first start at catcher of the season. While the intent was to play Garver as a full-time DH in order to keep…