Seattle Mariners opening day is really getting real, as the first M’s lineup of the 2024 MLB season has arrived ahead of Thursday’s 7:10 p.m. game against the Boston Red Sox.
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The good news is the gang’s all here, with notable additions (and former Minnesota Twins teammates) Jorge Polanco and Mitch Garver hitting back-to-back in the middle of Seattle’s order.
J.P. Crawford and two-time All-Star Julio Rodríguez are in their customary 1-2 spots, but the batting order’s improved length is also on display with the returning Mitch Haniger and first baseman Ty France both hitting in the bottom half.
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This is what it looks like.
Opening day lineup: Seattle Mariners (0-0)
1. J.P. Crawford, SS
2. Julio Rodríguez, CF
3. Jorge Polanco, 2B
4. Mitch Garver, DH
5. Cal Raleigh, C
6. Mitch Haniger, RF
7. Dominic Canzone, LF
8. Ty France, 1B
9. Josh Rojas, 3B
Luis Castillo, SP
FEAST YOUR EYES. #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/w0DRZ2PAAT
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 28, 2024
The Mariners will send this lineup out against second-year Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher Brayan Bello.
Here’s what Boston will counter with.
Opening day lineup: Boston Red Sox (0-0)
OPENING DAY.
LET’S ROCK. pic.twitter.com/j70lczqhwi— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 28, 2024
Of note is right fielder Tyler O’Neill, a former highly-ranked Seattle Mariners prospect and a native of the Vancouver, British Columbia area, making his Red Sox debut. The Mariners traded O’Neill to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017 in the move that brought Marco Gonzales to Seattle. A two-time Gold Glove winner with the Cards, O’Neill has homered on opening day in four straight seasons and has a chance to break the record if he can go yard again Thursday night.
Seattle also announced its full 26-man active roster for opening day on Thursday morning, along with the players who are starting the season on the injured list. Click to link below for more.
Seattle Mariners announce opening day 26-man roster
Radio coverage of Thursday’s game and every M’s game to follow this season can be heard on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports app, the flagship of the Mariners Radio Network. Pregame begins at 6 p.m., and Seattle Sports’ daily shows are at and around the ballpark all day broadcasting live.
For details on how to stream the Mariners radio call, click here.
More on the Mariners
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• Salk: Scars remain as Mariners return, but hope isn’t far away
• Dontrelle Willis: Mariners’ rotation provides ‘quality every single day’
• How Mariners hitters are embracing new approach to offense
• Why Jeff Passan ‘flirted’ with picking Mariners for World Series
