Cincinnati Reds at Seattle Mariners

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
CIN	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
SEA	0	0	0	0	1	0	6	1	—	8	13	0

Andrew Abbott takes the ball for Cincinnati looking to steady things after a shaky last time out, while George Kirby gets the ball for Seattle at T-Mobile Park for first pitch at 6:40 PM PT.

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FINAL

Spread

ML

Total

Reds(45-53)

WLWLL

0

+1.5-160+135o7.5-102

Mariners(50-50)

WWLWL

8

-1.5+156-138u7.5+102

Best BetMariners -155

Pregame

Kirby's last start was 7 strikeouts and zero walks over 6 innings — that's ace-level command even though the box score says he lost. Seattle's been finding ways to win two straight now, and at home against a Reds team still missing multiple bullpen arms, the Mariners are the side to lean on to just win the game outright.

Kirby's last start was actually one of his better ones of the year — 7 strikeouts, 0 walks over 6 innings against the Marlins — and he still took the loss because Seattle's offense couldn't cash it in. That's been the story for the Mariners lately: pitching keeping them afloat while the bats figure things out. Cal Raleigh, last year's centerpiece, has been buried in a brutal stretch since coming off the IL, and Seattle's lineup has had to scrap for every run.

Andrew Abbott

(5-7)·3.91 ERA

Jul 12 vs Cubs

ND

4.0IP

4ER

3K

3BB

79P

07/20 Lineup

George Kirby

(8-9)·3.76 ERA

Jul 8 @ Marlins

L

6.0IP

2ER

7K

0BB

86P

07/20 Lineup

Cincinnati's bullpen picture isn't pretty either. Tony Santillan is dealing with a PRP injection for his oblique, Graham Ashcraft is only just building back up on a throwing program, and Brandon Williamson's rehab keeps getting pushed. That's a lot of innings the Reds need from arms that aren't their best right now, which matters against a Seattle team that's shown it can grind out at-bats even in a down offensive stretch.

The Reds did just show some life, dropping 9 runs on Colorado in their last outing after getting run out of the building the game before that — this team is streaky in both directions, win or lose, and rarely boring for long.

Cincinnati Reds

(45-53)

Jul 19W@ Rockies9-6

Jul 18L@ Rockies3-10

Jul 18W@ Rockies7-2

Jul 12Lvs Cubs4-8

Jul 11Lvs Cubs3-5

Seattle Mariners

(50-50)

Jul 19Wvs Giants6-3

Jul 19Wvs Giants4-3

Jul 18Lvs Giants0-7

Jul 12W@ Rays8-2

Jul 11L@ Rays1-6

Matt McLain is back with the club after using the All-Star break to work at Cincinnati's Arizona complex, which gives the infield a little more juice than it's had. On the other side, Seattle's getting reinforcements too — Brendan Donovan and Rob Refsnyder have both shifted their rehab assignments to Triple-A Tacoma, meaning the Mariners could have real lineup help walking through the door soon, just not tonight.

Cincinnati Reds

(6)

• 10-Day-ILBlake Dunn (CF) — Dunn (elbow) has shown improvement and hit off a tee July 11, MLB.com reports.07/18
• 10-Day-ILMatt McLain (2B) — McLain (calf) rejoined the Reds after spending the All-Star break at the team's training complex in Arizona, MLB.com reports.07/18
• 15-Day-ILTony Santillan (RP) — Santillan (oblique) received a PRP injection July 9 and is undergoing further treatment, MLB.com reports.07/18
• 15-Day-ILNick Lodolo (SP) — Lodolo had his blister drained and began throwing with a Plyo ball, MLB.com reports.07/18
• 60-Day-ILGraham Ashcraft (RP) — Ashcraft (elbow) is on a throwing program, which will have him throw from 105 feet beginning July 20 at the Reds' training facility in Arizona, MLB.com reports.07/18
• 60-Day-ILBrandon Williamson (SP) — Williamson (shoulder) injured his finger while working out, and his rehab program has been pushed back by about 10 days as a result, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.06/28

Seattle Mariners

(7)

• 10-Day-ILRob Refsnyder (DH) — Refsnyder (knee) will embark on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, Tim Booth of The Seattle Times reports.07/17
• 10-Day-ILBrendan Donovan (3B) — Donovan (groin) will shift his rehab assignment to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.07/17
• 15-Day-ILMatt Brash (RP) — General manager Justin Hollander said Tuesday that Brash was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain in his right lat, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.06/16
• 60-Day-ILCooper Criswell (RP) — Seattle transferred Criswell (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday.07/04
• 60-Day-ILCarlos Vargas (RP) — Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Tuesday that Vargas (lat) recently began a throwing program and could be ready to return from the 60-day injured list around the Aug. 3 trade deadline, Zac Hereth of 710 AM Seattle Sports reports.06/17
• 60-Day-ILWill Wilson (3B) — Wilson (thumb) has gone 3-for-9 with two RBI and a 1:2 BB:K in his first three rehab games between High-A Everett and Triple-A Tacoma.06/17
• 60-Day-ILLogan Evans (SP) — The Mariners placed Evans (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Monday.05/08

Neither team is playing spoiler or chasing anything urgent in July, but Seattle's the healthier version of itself right now, and Kirby's stuff has looked the part even when the results haven't followed. Cincinnati's task is simple: get length from Abbott and hope the offense that torched Colorado shows back up against a pitcher who hasn't walked a batter in his last outing.