Three Mariners Stars Won't Be Ready for Opening Day, and Seattle's Already Scrambling
So much for a clean start to the season. The Mariners just dropped their opening day roster ahead of Thursday's 7:10 p.m. Pacific matchup against the Guardians, and there's some real bad news buried in there: J.P. Crawford, Bryce Miller, and another key piece are all heading to the injured list to start 2026. Yeah, this is happening to the defending AL West champs, and it's already putting pressure on a team that needs to hit the ground running.
Crawford and Miller Out, Holes Everywhere
J.P. Crawford, the Mariners' longtime shortstop, is going to miss the start of the season with a shoulder injury. That's a massive problem for the middle infield. Bryce Miller, who you'd expect anchoring the back of the rotation, is also dealing with his own injury situation. These aren't role players we're talking about here. These are guys who matter.
So who fills the void? Leo Rivas is going to get some reps at short while Crawford recovers. It's not the ideal scenario, but the Mariners have to make it work. The depth chart is getting tested before spring training even wraps up officially.
Familiar Faces Leading the Charge
Look, the good news is that Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez are still here, still ready to carry this team. Those are your superstars. The Mariners also brought in some new pieces like Brendan Donovan and Jose A. Ferrer to bolster the roster. That's the foundation they're building on.
But you can't ignore those injuries. The Mariners are the defending AL West champions, which means expectations are sky high. Opening day against Cleveland is going to come quick, and Seattle needs to prove it can weather this storm and stay competitive in what's always a brutal division race.
Let's see how this roster responds when the games actually count. Lumen Field is calling.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.