Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Lengthy time between starts
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Gonzales hasn't started an official Cactus League game since March 3 but threw four innings in a "B" game against the Padres on Thursday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Gonzales was supposed to log a start Wednesday until rain washed out that opportunity, but he was able to get his work in with the four frames on the Padres' side of the Peoria training complex the following morning. Gonzales' most recent time on the mound in official Cactus League action went well, as he fired 3.2 scoreless innings against Diamondbacks on March 3. However, the veteran left-hander does have some formidable competition for the No. 5 starter job in Chris Flexen, who's posted a 2-0 record, 2.08 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 13 innings this spring.
Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Solid in second spring start
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Gonzales recorded the win in Friday's Cactus League victory over the Diamondbacks, firing 3.2 scoreless innings during which he allowed three hits and two walks while recording three strikeouts.
Gonzales pounded 33 of his 48 offerings in for strikes while working on what would be the sixth pitch in his arsenal, a slider. Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports catcher Tom Murphy came away particularly impressed with Gonzales' performance overall after the left-hander was bounced around for four earned runs on five hits over two innings by the Angels in his first Cactus League start. "I saw a great adjustment," said Murphy. "I felt his fastball command wasn't usual Marco today, then he just came out and just started pounding his breaking ball. For him to do that mid game, that's why Marco is so good at going seven innings."
Gonzales will begin the Mariners' AL Wild Card Series versus the Blue Jays as a member of the taxi squad.
Gonzales will be ineligible to pitch in the series unless he gets added to the active roster. The 30-year-old wrapped up the 2022 campaign with a 4.13 ERA and 1.33 WHIP and will provide the Mariners with an additional depth option at their disposal.
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Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Throws seven innings
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Gonzales did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks over seven innings against the Tigers. He struck out five.
Gonzales allowed all four runs on RBI singles, though one of the two runs that scored on Jeimer Candelario's fourth-inning knock did so because of a throwing error. The lefty did not impress during his final 15 starts of the season, recording a 5.08 ERA over 88.2 innings. The 30-year-old's 4.13 ERA and 1.33 WHIP during 2022 were his worst marks in five seasons as a full-time member of Seattle's rotation.
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Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Starting regular-season finale
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Gonzales is starting Wednesday's game against the Tigers, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.
It was unclear who would get the ball for the final game of the regular season, but the Mariners will save Logan Gilbert for the playoffs. Gonzales has a 4.91 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 18 strikeouts in 29.1 innings over his last five starts.
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Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Hit hard in no-decision
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Gonzales allowed four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings in a no-decision versus the Rangers on Thursday.
Gonzales gave up loud contact in the third inning, as Sam Huff, Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia all tagged him for home runs. This was the third time in five September starts Gonzales has yielded multiple homers. He didn't pick up a win this month and saw his ERA rise from 3.99 to 4.14 for the year. He's added a 98:48 K:BB and 1.33 WHIP through 176 innings spanning 31 starts. Gonzales is projected for one more regular-season start, a favorable matchup versus the Tigers, but it's unclear if he'll work as a starter in the playoffs.
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Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Gives up three in loss
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Gonzales (10-15) gave up three earned runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out two over five innings to take the loss in a 5-1 defeat against the Royals on Friday.
Gonzales chalked up an unremarkable performance, which led to his 15th loss of the season and raised his ERA to 4.05. He has now given up eight earned runs over his last two appearances after stringing together four quality starts in a row. The main problem with Gonzales is that his stuff simply isn't good enough to miss many bats. The 30-year-old left-hander has 94 strikeouts in 171 innings pitched this season. He is tentatively expected to take his next turn in the rotation in an appearance against the Rangers.
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Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Yields three homers in loss
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Gonzales (10-14) allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four in 6.1 innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Angels.
Gonzales was undone by the long ball -- he gave up two home runs to Luis Rengifo and one to Livan Soto. This was the second time in three starts Gonzales has given up multiple homers, though it's just the seventh time he's done that in 29 starts for the year. The poor start ticked his ERA up to 4.01 with a 1.32 WHIP and 92:47 K:BB through 166 innings this season. The 30-year-old southpaw is lined up for a favorable road start in Kansas City for his next turn.
Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Whiffs five in quality start
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Gonzales didn't factor into the decision during Sunday's 8-7 win against the Braves, allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts in six innings.
Gonzales limited Atlanta's potent offense to an Austin Riley solo shot in the third inning and departed in line for his fourth win in five turns with a 6-1 lead. The typically solid Seattle bullpen would go on to surrender six combined runs in the eighth and ninth to eliminate Gonzales from the ledger despite his second-best game score of the campaign at 69. During his last five starts, the 30-year-old has permitted only nine runs and 28 baserunners in 30.1 innings to drop his ERA from 4.18 to 3.89. Gonzales is projected to take the mound again next weekend against the Angels.
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Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Takes 13th loss
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Gonzales (10-13) was tagged with the loss against the White Sox on Monday, pitching seven innings and allowing three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out three batters.
Gonzales limited Chicago to four hits, though two of those were home runs. He finished with his third straight quality start but nonetheless had his three-game winning streak snapped. Gonzales' 13 losses are tied for second-most in the majors. However, he also has 10 wins, making him one of two big-league pitchers (along with Miles Mikolas) to reach double figures in both wins and losses so far this season.
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Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Quality start in win Wednesday
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Gonzales (10-12) earned the win after he tossed six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out one versus the Tigers on Wednesday.
Gonzales gave up two runs in the bottom of the second after allowing the first three batters he faced to reach base in the inning. He later surrendered another run in the bottom of sixth on a Jeimer Candelario RBI single. Gonzales has now produced three strong starts in a row after he gave up five runs against the Rangers on Aug. 13, compiling a 2.76 ERA over those three outings.
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Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Shuts down Guardians
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Gonzales (9-12) allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out four across six innings to earn the win Thursday against the Guardians.
Gonzales allowed his lone earned run of the game in the first inning, and he allowed only one hit across his final five frames of work. Due to his contact-heavy approach, Gonzales will continue to get inconsistent results, though he has now allowed three or fewer earned runs in three of his last four outings. For the season, he owns a 3.97 ERA and a 79:43 K:BB across 140.2 frames.
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Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Lasts long enough for win
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Gonzales (8-12) gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out one over 5.1 innings to earn the win in a 10-2 victory over the Athletics on Friday.
Gonzales took advantage of a favorable matchup against the weak Athletics lineup to churn out his eighth win of the season despite only striking out one batter. The soft-tossing lefty got plenty of run support and pitched to contact before coming out of the game at 79 pitches. The positive start lowered his ERA to 4.08 after a rough ride his last time out against the Rangers. Gonzales has an elevated 1.41 WHIP and has struck out only 75 batters in 134.2 innings this season. He is tentatively expected to make his next start against the Guardians.
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Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Roughed up in no-decision
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Gonzales gave up five earned runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out two over five innings in a 7-4 loss to the Rangers on Saturday. He did not factor into the decision.
The Rangers lineup got to Gonzales in the fourth inning with a barrage of hits to put four runs on the board. Corey Seager followed it up with a solo shot the next inning. Gonzales simply doesn't have the stuff to give major-league hitters much strikeout trouble, and he only managed six swinging strikes on 72 pitches. The soft-throwing lefty saw his WHIP jump to 1.42 with the performance and has a K/BB of 1.9 on the season. He is tentatively expected to make his next start in a favorable matchup at Oakland.
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Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Bounces back Sunday
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Gonzales (7-11) allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out seven to earn the win Sunday over the Angels.
The seven strikeouts were a season high for Gonzales, who also turned in his fourth quality start in his last seven outings. David Fletcher was the only Angel to find success against him, posting a two-out double and an RBI groundout. Gonzales still has a 3.98 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 72:40 K:BB across 124.1 innings through 22 starts -- given his pitch-to-contact tendencies, his 2.9 BB/9 rate has led to some crooked numbers at times. The southpaw is tentatively projected for a road start versus the Rangers next weekend.
