The great Mariners debuts No. 1 prospect Kade Anderson will be chasing vs. Cubs

The moment is finally here, with Kade Anderson ready to make his Major League debut on Saturday night under the bright lights and intense glare of a national TV audience. No one can deny the lefty has earned this opportunity, after blazing a trail through Double-A with a 1.06 ERA and 0.643 WHIP, which both lead the minors this year. He has produced an insane 135 strikeouts to just 13 walks over 93.1 innings, although the Mariners have given him a challenging start to his big-leagu tenure.

Aside from the fact the Cubs are well-placed for a Wild Card spot with a 5.0-game cushion over the chasing pack, they lead the majors with a .805 OPS versus left-handed pitching. As justified as the Anderson hype is, will he be able to contend with the media frenzy, expectations and tough opponent which surround Saturday night? Last year's third overall draft pick might be known for being calm in big moments, but the game versus the Cubs will test this to the limit.

In terms of what to anticipate, it's only natural to compare Anderson to Félix Hernández. The hype is similar, although the environment Anderson is facing is nothing like what King Félix encountered. In any event, it'll be interesting to see how the 22-year-old does on Saturday night, compared to Hernández's debut back in 2005, when he allowed three hits, two walks and two runs (one earned) over 5.0 innings, while striking out four in a 3-1 road loss to the Tigers.

3 best starting pitcher debuts in Mariners franchise history that Kade Anderson will be chasing

3) Blake Beavan - July 11, 2011 vs. Pades

Depending on your level and length of Mariners fandom, you could be forgiven for wondering who the heck Blake Beavan is. However, at one time he was considered a hot prospect after being taken 17th overall in the 2007 draft by the Rangers. And for one day at least, he showed that potential with one of the best ever debuts by a pitcher in M's history.

Beavan was pushing for his major league debut while still with the Rangers, and seemed to be doing a good job of making his case back in 2010. He had produced a 2.78 ERA and 1.018 WHIP over 17 starts in Double-A Frisco and was subsequently promoted to Triple-A. However, before he had the chance to play in Oklahoma City, he was traded to the Mariners as part of the return package for Cliff Lee and Mark Lowe.

Lee was a big loss for the Mariners, but also an expected one after the team fell out of contention in 2010. As much as no one counted on Beavan being a younger version of Lee, there was still some hope based on his background and potential. And despite some uninspiring displays in Triple-A Tacoma, these hopes only grew when the righty made his MLB debut a year later.

Beavan threw 7.0 outstanding innings at home to the Padres, allowing just three hits, two walks and one earned run, striking out four in a 3-1 win. There may have been some Mariners debuts which had more razzmatazz, but few were as clinical as his. Unfortunately for the Mariners, this didn't signal the arrival of a new pitching ace in Seattle, as he went on to produce a 4.61 ERA and 1.273 WHIP over four seasons, then never played in the majors again.

2) George Kirby - May 8, 2022 vs. Rays

There's a lot of consternation surrounding George Kirby these days, due to his up-and-down performances. One minute he's pitching 7.0 shutout innings at home to the Twins, the next he's being pummelled for six earned runs in one frame on the road in Milwaukee. So much more is expected from a pitcher with staff ace potential, just as he displayed in his major league debut.

Kirby is lauded for his command and control, which is often argued to be the best among starting pitchers in the majors. This aspect of his game was at its peak back in 2023, when he led all of baseball with a ridiculous 9.05 K/BB ratio. And this talent was on display essentially from the word go, during his debut in The Show.

The date was May 8, 2022, and the Mariners were hosting the Rays in Seattle. There was plenty of buzz surrounding Kirby, with the implication that the team had something special on their hands, as he only made one start in Triple-A Tacoma before getting the call up. It's fair to say he didn't disappoint.

Kirby allowed just four hits over 6.0 innings, didn't give up a single walk or run, and also struck out seven. It took the Mariners 10 innings before finally prevailing 2-1, but there's no doubt they were put in position to win by the 28-year-old. While he has been the subject of trade speculation and suggestions that his best days are behind him, the M's remain hopeful the player who made such an outstanding debut is capable of returning on a more consistent level.

1) Bryce Miller - May 2, 2023 vs. Athletics

Bryce Miller is the most unheralded member of the current Mariners rotation, a reputation further enhanced by a slender build and unassuming persona. However, all this does is belie the burning desire and talent which he possesses. In many ways, the righty is the ideal person to top our list of best starting pitcher debuts, in terms of being both surprising and deserving.

Unlike Kirby, Logan Gilbert and Bryan Woo, Miller has yet to be selected for an All-Star Game. He's also currently on a horrendous run with a 6.57 ERA in his last seven outings, all of which have been losses. However, this is also the same guy who had a team-high 3.5 bWAR in 2024 for the best rotation in the majors, and last season produced a stellar performance in Game 1 of the ALCS, when the M's pitching staff was running on fumes.

In any event, when Miller made his major league debut for the Mariners in 2023 on the road in Oakland, no one knew quite what to expect. What followed was the best-ever first start by a pitcher in franchise history. Through 6.0 standout innings, the 2021 fourth-round draft pick was nearly unstoppable, as he only allowed only two hits and one earned run, while not giving up any free passes.

On top of this Miller also racked up 10 strikeouts in his 81 pitches, which is a club record for an M's pitcher in their debut. He didn't get the 'W', but he more than did his part, as the Mariners went on to win 2-1. In the process, he showed people they should never underestimate him. Now, if he can just resolve his bone spurs issue once and for all, he might be able to take his game and consistency to another level.

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