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Seattle Mariners: A few questions must be answered for pen to improve in 2019

By Herbert Nightingale

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 03: Edwin Diaz #39 of the Seattle Mariners greets Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais after getting the save against the Baltimore Orioles at Safeco Field on September 3, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 03: Edwin Diaz #39 of the Seattle Mariners greets Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais after getting the save against the Baltimore Orioles at Safeco Field on September 3, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO: Scott Servais #9 manager of the Seattle Mariners signals for a pitching change as he heads to the mound in the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals in game one of a doubleheader at Kauffman Stadium on August 6, 2017. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

How will the bullpen be used?

The Tampa Bay Rays started the season using a reliever day in the rotation. A pitcher would start the opening two or three innings and then be replaced by another reliever. They could end up using five relievers or more in a game.

The Mariners used a similar strategy last Friday when Paxton wasn’t able to pitch because of illness. The Oakland A’s and the Los Angeles Angels have done same facing the Mariners due to injuries. Depending on the depth in the starting rotation many teams may decide to go this way.

Often when teams like the Rays have success the other teams follow suit. The Mariners with their intended 2019 rotation may or may not do it again next year. If they did Felix or LeBlanc would pitch four or five innings maximum before being removed. The first reliever could come into the and pitch the fifth and/or sixth inning.

At that point, the Mariners would go with eight relievers on a regular basis. One of them being a long reliever who sometimes doesn’t pitch for a week or more. We could see Alex Colome take the hill in the seventh inning, depending on the hitters due up. He could go for five outs and then Diaz finishes getting the last four outs. It makes for an enticing situation.

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