The Seattle Mariners are riding high after a stellar 5-1 road trip through St. Louis and Minnesota, and now they're back at T-Mobile Park for an exciting Friday night showdown against the Kansas City Royals. Sitting at 16-16, the M's are just 1.5 games back in the American League West, while the Royals find themselves in last place in the AL Central. Don't let those standings fool you, though—this series promises to be a battle, with Kansas City sending ace Cole Ragans to the mound on Friday and Seth Lugo on Saturday.

Friday's game gets the national treatment, airing on Apple TV with the dynamic duo of Wayne Randazzo and Dontrelle Willis on the call, alongside veteran field reporter Heidi Watney. Before the first pitch, Watney stopped by the 'Refuse to Lose' podcast to share insights on the matchup, her game-day preparation, and one of baseball's most talked-about traditions: those quick-hitting in-game manager interviews.

When asked about the challenge of getting meaningful answers from managers in such a tight window, Watney offered a behind-the-scenes look. "We have a really small window—just two questions, maybe a quick follow-up if the answers are short. I always come prepared with a whole list," she explained. "The key is knowing these guys. I've covered the sport for 20 years, and we always have private one-on-ones with each manager before the game. So I know exactly what kind of question will get Dave Roberts talking. Sometimes, I'll even pick up on something interesting from our private meeting and use that instead of my own take—it makes for a much better segment."

Whether you're tuning in for the playoff-like atmosphere or just love hearing how the broadcast magic happens, this Mariners-Royals series is one you won't want to miss. Grab your favorite M's gear, settle in, and get ready for some Friday night baseball.