Game 3 of the season is giving us our first glimpse of how the Seattle Mariners stack up against a left-handed starter, with some intriguing lineup changes. Newcomer Rob Refsnyder is making his Mariners debut, stepping right into the leadoff spot as the designated hitter against Cleveland Guardians' lefty Joey Cantillo.
Refsnyder, the last of the Mariners' offseason acquisitions to debut, is expected to add a spark at the top of the order. His presence shakes things up, moving third baseman Brendan Donovan from leadoff to sixth and nudging switch-hitting shortstop Leo Rivas up to eighth, while second baseman Cole Young slides down to ninth.
Joining Refsnyder in the lineup shuffle is Victor Robles, making his season debut in the seventh spot as the right fielder. This new-look lineup will support right-hander Bryan Woo, who’s coming off an impressive All-Star campaign in 2025, as he takes the mound for the first time this season.
The Mariners strategically brought in Refsnyder during the offseason to balance out their lineup, which can lean heavily left-handed. In their first two games against right-handed starters, the Mariners featured five left-handed bats.
That number is set to increase to six once shortstop J.P. Crawford returns from the injured list, potentially as soon as their first road trip.
Refsnyder’s track record against lefties is impressive. Over the past four seasons, he’s posted a .312/.407/.516 slash line, boasting a .924 OPS in 501 plate appearances against southpaws.
Among MLB hitters with at least 400 plate appearances against left-handers since 2022, Refsnyder ranks third in on-base percentage, trailing only Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt. He’s also sixth in batting average, 16th in slugging percentage, and seventh in OPS.
With these strategic adjustments, the Mariners are looking to maximize their offensive potential against left-handed pitching, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup.