Today’s game was a spring training game played under blustery skies, but it was also the lone meetup between these two AL West rivals this spring, with both teams rolling out something Opening Day-adjacent in their lineups. The Mariners can hope their victory is indicative of things to come this season, even after Texas opened the purse strings to attempt to build a contender this off-season, although today’s contest also showed there’s still work to do. Also, though: Julio. Let’s get to it!
Robbie Ray, Seattle’s probable Opening Day starter, got the nod today. Ray looked mostly sharp, although his command could have been finer; he got two quick outs on a groundout and a strikeout to start the game but then walked the nigh-unwalkable Adolis García and needed 21 pitches to get out of the first.