LIVE: J-Ram, J-Rod FREE on MLB.TV

April 1st, 2023

After Seattle’s thrilling Opening Day win over Cleveland, the Guardians and Mariners continue their season-opening battle tonight, and you can stream that must-see matchup for free on MLB.TV.

The battle between the two 2022 playoff teams is the MLB.TV’s Free Game of the Day.

The three-game series comes on the heels of Seattle’s 3-0 win, which was a callback to the plethora of close games they played last season. Tonight’s game should feature plenty of firepower from star-studded lineups that both feature preseason MVP candidates.

For the Guardians, that MVP candidate is José Ramírez, who is coming off a 1-for-4 performance on Opening Day. Last season, Ramírez picked up his fourth career All-Star berth by slashing .280/.355/.514 to go along with 29 home runs and 126 RBIs en route to getting his fourth-career top four MVP finish. Cleveland’s lineup also boasts two more All-Stars in closer Emmanuel Clase and second baseman Andrés Giménez.

Hunter Gaddis will get the nod for the Guardians due to Triston McKenzie being shut down for two weeks due to a shoulder strain. Gaddis, who was originally set to start the season in the bullpen, went 0-2 with an 18.41 ERA in two starts last season after making his Major League debut in August.

After breaking their 21-year postseason drought last season, the Mariners have their sights set on a World Series berth this season. Their chances of earning that berth begin with Julio Rodríguez, who went hitless on Opening Day. Rodríguez is coming off an incredible season where he slugged 28 home runs, drove in 75 runs and stole 25 bases en route to winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award along with getting the Silver Slugger Award for center field and finishing seventh in MVP voting. Ty France (who hit the decisive Opening Day blast) was also an All-Star for the Mariners last season.

Robbie Ray will start for the Mariners after going 12-12 with a 3.71 ERA in 189 innings last year in his first season in Seattle.

Last year, the Mariners dominated the season series against the Guardians, winning six of the seven matchups between the two teams. That doesn’t mean the games were without drama, however, as the games between the two teams included a walk-off win and a dramatic extra-innings win that featured a 4 1/2-hour weather delay and some heroics from Cal Raleigh.