George Kirby's 10.38 ERA vs. the Padres and The Emerald City Is Not Ready for a Sweep

WHOA. Saturday's game against the Padres at T-Mobile Park? Not what we wanted. The Friars took a 7-4 victory, and now our M's are staring down the barrel of a season sweep in the Vedder Cup. Talk about a gut punch. After fighting our way within a single game of .500, we've dropped three of our last four, and it feels like we just can't get over that hump. Remember when we were 3-2 way back on March 30? Yeah, that was the ONLY day we've been above .500 all year. It's time to stop the slide, and Sunday's game is HUGE.

Our Guys Gotta Find Their Rhythm

Logan Gilbert, who usually deals, gave up a season-high seven runs Saturday. Ouch. He's not wrong though when he said, "I think we know we're not playing all the way to our capabilities, but it's a long year." He gets it. The man knows we've seen this before, and the biggest thing is not to panic. But he also stressed, "how quickly can you turn it? Because things like this are going to happen to every team, every single year, it's just how much can you shorten that window and get back to playing your best baseball." He’s right, we gotta shorten that window. And adding to the anxiety, we were without Brendan Donovan, who needed rest for a groin strain, and Mitch Garver due to back tightness. Let's hope those guys are back to full strength soon, we need 'em!

Kirby Takes the Mound, But There's a Catch

So, who's gonna be our hero on Sunday to avoid this sweep? It's our guy, George Kirby. He's been solid overall this year, rocking a 5-2 record with a sharp 2.84 ERA. He just defeated Houston 3-1 on Monday, allowing only one run on seven hits over five innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts. That's the Kirby we know and love! BUT, here's the thing that's gonna make you clench a little: in his two previous starts against the Padres, Kirby's got an 0-2 record with a staggering 10.38 ERA. YIKES! Meanwhile, the Padres are bringing out Lucas Giolito, who's making his season debut for them after waiting all winter for a call. He signed a one-year, $3 million deal on April 22, and he's been putting in work with four minor-league starts. Giolito went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA for Boston last season, and he's 2-1 with a 4.35 ERA in four career starts against us. He said he's "just excited to be back out there and help a really good team win baseball games." He feels "back where I belong," especially with San Diego dealing with injuries to pitchers Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove, German Marquez, and Matt Waldron.

What's Next for Our M's

This Sunday isn't just another game, it's about stopping a sweep, man. It's about getting back to playing *our* baseball, the M's baseball we know our guys are capable of. We need Kirby to shake off those past Padres struggles and deal like he usually does. Let's get that W, turn this thing around, and show the league what the Emerald City is really made of! Go M's!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.