Mariners vs A's Preview: Gilbert vs Springs Sparks Week 61 Showdown

The Mariners walked into Oakland yesterday and immediately took over. They scored six runs in the third inning alone—and didn't stop there. Arozarena doubled, Raley rocketed a home run, and Canzone launched another blast. Crawford followed with a moon shot to center. By the end, Seattle crushed the Athletics 9-2. Now the Mariners are rolling with momentum on their side. They're 26-29 overall but riding a winning streak into Wednesday night's matchup. This is a team that knows how to score quick and early.

Seattle's starting pitcher tonight is Logan Gilbert. Gilbert is ranked as a top-30 pitcher in baseball. This season, his ERA sits at 7.06—higher than he'd like. That means he's giving up a lot of runs. But Gilbert is sharp when he locks in. He's struck out 13 batters already. The Mariners trust him with big games like this. His job is simple: keep Oakland's bats quiet and give Seattle a chance to win. The Athletics will be ready to pounce on any mistakes Gilbert makes.

Oakland's Jeffrey Springs takes the mound for the Athletics tonight. Springs is a veteran pitcher who has played for four different teams in his career. He comes in with a 3.53 ERA this season. Springs needs to be sharp from the first pitch. The Mariners just showed yesterday they can explode for runs fast. If Springs falls behind early, Seattle's hitters will punish him. Oakland is 27-27 on the season and can't afford more losses. Springs is a key part of keeping this team's playoff hopes alive during their challenging transition year.