The Seattle Mariners acknowledged that poor communication was the main source of frustration surrounding their new piggyback pitching arrangement involving Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo. On Tuesday, the team’s leadership, including manager Dan Wilson, pitching coach Pete Woodworth, and president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto, met with both pitchers to clarify the plan moving forward.
Seattle confirmed that the tandem strategy will continue on Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with Miller starting and Castillo following out of the bullpen. Despite visible frustrations from both players during Monday’s game, the setup has produced excellent results. Together, Miller and Castillo have posted a 2.12 ERA, recorded 21 strikeouts with only five walks, limited hitters to a .485 OPS, and combined for 17 of 18 innings across two games.
Dipoto admitted the communication process could have been handled better and explained that the strategy is still evolving. The Mariners had considered the possibility weeks earlier but initially experimented with a six-man rotation once all starters became healthy. The club still has no plans to permanently move either pitcher to the bullpen or send anyone to the minors.
Part of the issue stemmed from trying to keep everyone satisfied, though that may have unintentionally created confusion. Miller revealed he only learned his role one or two days before the game, while Castillo showed frustration after being removed following four innings in Monday’s 9-2 win, even though he knew his outing would likely be shorter.
Wilson emphasized that proper communication is essential and praised both pitchers for their willingness to cooperate for the benefit of the team. The Mariners also plan to address the entire six-man rotation group later this week as they continue evaluating the best way to maximize their pitching staff.
Seattle believes the current setup remains necessary for several reasons. Miller has been dominant recently, and the club wants to protect both his health and confidence after previous injuries. Castillo, despite inconsistency, could still be needed as a full-time starter if another injury occurs later in the season. Emerson Hancock has also pitched very effectively, while the team prefers not to reduce starts for George Kirby, Bryan Woo, or Logan Gilbert by returning permanently to a six-man rotation.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs extended their losing streak to 10 games after a 12-1 defeat against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jordan Wicks struggled badly in his season debut, allowing five first-inning runs and finishing with eight runs allowed over 4 1/3 innings. Wicks admitted he was overly energized and failed to execute pitches effectively early in the game.
The Cubs’ skid is especially surprising because the team already recorded two separate 10-game winning streaks earlier this season. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the 2017 Dodgers are the only other MLB team to accomplish both two 10-game winning streaks and a 10-game losing streak in the same year.
Chicago’s offense continued to struggle in key situations, finishing 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and leaving 11 runners on base. Manager Craig Counsell stressed that players must deliver in crucial moments, while second baseman Nico Hoerner said the team simply needs individuals to step up and make winning plays.
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