The Seattle Mariners just wrapped up a rough home series against the Kansas City Royals—and now they have to face the best team in baseball. Talk about a tough week.
This week, the Mariners head to Atlanta to take on the Braves, who currently boast the league's top record. But here's the twist: both teams are banged up. Badly. So while this matchup looks like a David vs. Goliath story on paper, the injury reports might actually level the playing field.
Mariners Injury Report:
Seattle will still be without Brendan Donovan for this series, though he's set to begin a rehab assignment this week and could rejoin the team in Chicago over the weekend. Victor Robles is also getting closer to a return, but he's just started his rehab stint in Tacoma, so don't expect him on this road trip. Catcher Cal Raleigh remains day-to-day with side tightness, and setup man Matt Brash is out for a while longer due to lat inflammation.
Braves Injury Report:
Atlanta's injury list is just as long—and just as frustrating. Ronald Acuña Jr. was placed on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain, joining a growing list of Braves dealing with leg issues. Michael Harris II has a balky quad and will likely be limited to DH duties for this series. That creates a logjam at DH, especially with catcher Sean Murphy returning from offseason hip labrum surgery and also needing to be limited to DH duties. Ha-Seong Kim has just started a rehab assignment and won't make the trip to Seattle.
On the mound, Spencer Strider returned from the IL on Sunday for his first start of the year—but he got battered in Coors Field, forcing a heavy bullpen day. Closer Raisel Iglesias is also on the IL, though the Braves signed former Padres reliever Robert Suarez this winter to soften that blow. Iglesias is eligible to be activated on Tuesday, so that could change. Oh, and Atlanta is also missing four potential rotation arms due to major surgeries from last fall or this spring: AJ Smith-Shawver, Hurston Waldrep, Joey Wentz, and Spencer Schwellenbach are all sidelined for months.
Given all those absences—plus a few more from their bullpen depth—the Braves' path to victory has become clear: outscore everyone. With their prodigious offense, Atlanta is still a threat every single night. But with both teams limping into this series, the Mariners might have a better shot than the standings suggest.