Overview
- On Friday the Red Sox scratched shortstop Marcelo Mayer from the series opener in Seattle because he was ill, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa started at shortstop in his place.
- Julio Rodríguez, who left Wednesday's game with a hamstring concern, returned to the Mariners' lineup for the opener and was slotted to bat third.
- Seattle planned to use a piggyback model with Bryce Miller starting and Luis Castillo expected to follow as the bulk reliever in the same game to manage innings.
- The moves come with the Mariners at 39-37 and leading the AL West while the Red Sox sit 29-43 and in last place in the AL East, giving different immediate stakes to each club.
- These short-term availability decisions reflect common midseason management choices about travel, day-to-day player care and pitcher workload that could influence roster moves and bullpen usage ahead of the trade deadline.