Mariners George Kirby and Matt Brash pair in fabulous start in ST

The Mariners played division foe Oakland on Sunday the 27th in a Spring Training game featuring young pitchers for the Mariners, and a name that has been all over the news in trade talks for Oakland. Matt Brash and George Kirby vs Frankie Montas.

Things went the Mariners way, and fast, in the game. Adam Frazier doubled, Ty France singled, and things were off to a nice start. Jesse Winker then grounded into a double play, although Adam Frazier would score. Not the greatest way to score a run, but it was still 1-0. Mitch Haniger would follow with a double, and Eugenio Suarez would knock one over the wall in left to make it 3-0 with his first home run in a Mariners uniform.

The Mariners roughed up Montas, but it was George Kirby and Matt Brash that stole the show.

Matt Brash started on the mound for the Mariners, and he showed everyone why he is a top 100 worthy prospect in baseball. Brash threw three perfect innings, albeit marred by a throwing error from Suarez in the second. The highlight for Brash came in the third when he would sit down Christian Pache, Skye Bolt, and Tony Kemp in order, needing only eleven pitches to do so.

It brought him to six strikeouts on the day, and Mariners Twitter was abuzz with excitement over what Brash had shown in his outing.

A lot of Mariners fans should be familiar with Lydia Cruz. She’s great online, and always has good M’s content and reactions. She wasn’t the only one though. When Pitching Ninja is talking about you for being nasty… yeah, that’s a pretty high honor.

Brash is making a huge case for the vacant fifth Mariners starting pitching spot. With just over a week left for a decision to be made, it truly does seem like it’s Brash’s spot. He’s not the only one fighting for it though, as the M’s uber-prospect George Kirby impressed during the game as well.

Kirby did give up three hits and a walk during his three innings of work, but like Brash, he would strike out six hitters also. With what MLB Pipeline grades as the best fastball (70) AND the best curveball (55) in the team’s system, oh, and the best control (65), Kirby showed why he is going to be knocking down the door for a spot in the rotation soon.

The Mariners ended up with incredible outings by both of their young studs in this game. We are likely to see them pitch twice more this offseason, with the final spot in the rotation not decided on until the final game of Spring Training. If you haven’t been able to watch these two pitch, make sure to check out some highlights, or at least the condensed game to see what they’re bringing to the table. Go Mariners!