Mariners Game #36 Preview and Discussion: 5/4/26, ATL at SEA

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 01: Logan Gilbert #36 of the Seattle Mariners looks on prior to the game against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on May 01, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Mariners, fresh off a brutal sweep at the hands of the Royals, now have to face one of the best teams in baseball, the Atlanta Braves. Read more about what’s coming in the series preview .

To make matters worse, the Mariners are getting steadily more injured without much help on the immediate horizon. Brendan Donovan will start a rehab assignment with Arkansas tomorrow, but he won’t be back for this series; Victor Robles is currently on a rehab assignment in Tacoma but similarly won’t be with the club until next series at the earliest. Cal Raleigh remains out with his mysterious side injury, with no indication from the club about the severity of the injury.

The bullpen took another hit today with the news that Gabe Speier is headed to the IL with shoulder inflammation; Matt Brash remains out with his lat issue. The injury bug saw his shadow and that means six more weeks of winter, in which winter is “Leo Rivas, everyday third baseman” and “Mitch Garver, everyday catcher” and “recruiting bullpen help from local travel teams. ” It’s rough out here, folks.

Lineups: This picture is doing everything it can to spark joy. Local kid JR Ritchie, who grew up on Bainbridge Island, gets the start tonight for the Braves, so don’t be too surprised if you hear a lot of cheering when he strikes a Mariner out – apparently he’s going to have quite a support squad in the building. Injury updates: Unfortunately these are all bad, for the Mariners.