Explaining the Mariners-Padres 'Vedder Cup' before the series comes alive

To most fans, this weekend will be a pretty typical one for the Seattle Mariners as they take on the San Diego Padres in a three-game series. Only the most observant of fans will know that, like the Subway Series and Lone Star Series, this match-up has a distinct name: the Vedder Cup.

It has been an unofficial title for the past several years, but recently received legitimate acknowledgement from MLB. But who is "Vedder," and how do they explain Seattle having a rivalry with a National League team on the opposite end of the country?

It all starts with Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam

Aside from rainy weather and coffee, Seattle is also known as the birthplace of many grunge bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam, whose lead singer and guitarist is none other than Eddie Vedder. Since Vedder spent a decent amount of time living in both Seattle and San Diego, the annual matchup between the two cities naturally ended up being named after him — despite the fact that Vedder is actually a lifelong Cubs fan who grew up in the Chicago suburbs.

To make the series a little more exciting, MLB has decided to add some formality and the winner of the series will receive a trophy designed by Vedder. More importantly, the two organizations will work together to support Vedder's nonprofit that aims to fund research for Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare genetic disorder.

In the 131 instances that the Padres and Mariners have met, Seattle has won 68 of them. However, the Padres have looked strong all season while the Mariners seem to be hitting a wall. The biggest concern for Seattle must be San Diego's intimidating lineup.

The Padres have a combined OPS of .733, 11th in MLB, and four of their hitters have an OPS+ over 150: Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth, and Jackson Merrill. This bodes poorly for the Mariners, whose pitching situation has been less than ideal, especially recently.

Pitching-wise, Seattle will have to face Michael King and Nick Pivetta, both of whom have been throwing the ball well this year. The third starter, Stephen Kolek, has yet to give up an earned run after his first 14.1 innings of work.

Luckily, the Mariners have hit almost as well as the Padres, holding a combined OPS of .726 and have posted a slightly better OPS of .737 against right-handed pitchers. if they're able to brush off the discouraging series loss to the Yankees, it should be a pretty even matchup.

With their lead in the AL West shrinking, getting a series win isn't just crucial for taking home the inaugural Vedder Cup trophy, it's imperative for securing the team's spot in the postseason.

Game Times and Probable Pitchers for Mariners vs. Padres, May 16-18

• Friday, May 16 at 6:40 p.m. PT: Stephen Kolek vs. Logan Evans
• Saturday, May 17 at 5:40 p.m. PT: Nick Pivetta vs. Emerson Hancock
• Sunday, May 18 at 1:10 p.m. PT: Michael King vs. Bryan Woo