The Vedder Cup rivalry heats up this Friday as the Seattle Mariners welcome the San Diego Padres to T-Mobile Park for Game #46 of the season. After a tough sweep in San Diego, the Mariners need a home sweep to keep their hopes alive in the tiebreaker—currently, the Padres hold the edge in run differential (16-9), while Seattle leads in average exit velocity (88.8 to 88.6). Every pitch counts in this series.

Game one features a rematch between Randy Vásquez and Emerson Hancock—two pitchers who have transformed their games this season. Both spent years struggling to generate swings and misses, but now they're racking up whiffs and strikeouts at an elite level. It's a remarkable turnaround that could earn each of them "Most Improved Player" honors in their respective leagues. The Mariners managed four runs off Vásquez in their last meeting, and Hancock held his own, but Seattle ultimately fell when Andrés Muñoz allowed five runs in the bottom of the ninth. Expect a battle of redemption tonight.

The Padres enter as one of baseball's luckiest teams, according to recent analysis, but the Mariners will look to change that narrative. With Cal Raleigh sidelined on the IL, the lineup shifts: Randy Arozarena moves up to cleanup, and the lefty quartet slides up behind him. Jhonny Pereda starts behind the plate, batting ninth, while the team also provided health updates on several players before first pitch.

Tune in on 710 AM Seattle Sports with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr. for all the action. It's a must-watch series for Mariners fans—and a great opportunity to gear up in your best Seattle apparel before the first pitch.