Mariners Notebook: Where Luis Castillo stands after latest start
SHANNON DRAYER
UPDATED: MARCH 12, 2023 AT 6:01 PM
Seattle Mariners’ Luis Castillo watches from the dugout at Yankee Stadium. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
It seemed like Mariners manager Scott Servais was giving most of his regulars a rest on Sunday – they weren’t on Seattle’s lineup and could be seen heading to the parking lot as the playlist players dressed and prepared to take on the Rangers Main Stadium. There was work to be done for them, especially Luis Castillo, who continues to work towards an opening-day start that most assume.
“Soon,” Servais replied when asked if he was ready to name his starter for Game 1. “We have some good candidates.”
Mariners World Baseball Classic Check-In: Julio, Geno, Harry and more
Contestant No. 1 appeared to take a step forward in Sunday afternoon’s 11-10 win over Rangers (box score). Castillo threw 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs with two hits while walking one and knocking out four (the damage was done on a home run by Nathaniel Lowe in the first inning). Castillo isn’t quite at the end of the season, but this is spring training. If this seems like a slow start for Castillo, it is by design – mostly by him – and he has confidence in the recovery program he has employed over the past six years.
“We have a plan, but obviously we’re not where we want to be yet,” Castillo said after the outing. “I’m feeling good. As spring training rolls around, the intensity builds up a bit and you keep working and preparing for the start of the season.”
In his first two games, Castillo’s fastball sat on low 90s. On Sunday, he hit a pair of 95 mph in the second inning. If the fans were a little nervous about the lower speed, the Mairners aren’t. Castillo is a “lights on” pitcher with a history of slow spring starts. This is about the work, not the competition.
“With him, you won’t see the electric speed that we saw at the end of the season,” Servais said. “I don’t know if we’re going to see that opening night. I think there will be a build, to his stuff. What’s unique about Luis is that he doesn’t have to hit 100 at 97 mph to be effective. Some jugs will do. He does not do it. The movement of its pitches, the trigger point, I like what I’ve seen so far. It’s actually better than I thought it would be in stock. He’s in a good place.”
For now, it’s all about keeping Castillo in that good spot while he keeps building.
mariner moves
Ahead of Sunday’s game, the Mariners announced a handful of roster moves.
• Option for Triple-A Tacoma: RHP Easton McGee
• Option for Double-A Arkansas: RHP Juan Then
• Moved to minor league camp: RHP Taylor Dollard; RHP Darren McCaughan; BY Alberto Rodriguez
With the moves, the Mariners now have 60 players in the big league camp.
Remarks
• Veteran outfielder AJ Pollock was dropped from the Mariners’ original lineup on Sunday after feeling under the weather.
• The Mariners travel to Tempe on Monday to take on the Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout-less Angels (both in the World Baseball Classic). Left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray, fresh from an off-day simulation game, will lead the way.
Mariners Notebook: Flexen ‘looks really good’, Hummel plays the field