Mariners' George Kirby: Slated to face hitters this week
Rotowire
Kirby (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session at T-Mobile Park this week, Daniel Kremer of MLB.com reports.
Kirby has thrown several bullpen sessions at the Mariners' spring training complex in Arizona and is almost ready to face hitters for the first time since coming down with right shoulder inflammation in early March. Mariners general manager Justin Hollander indicated Sunday that Kirby could be ready to rejoin the rotation in "May or June," although any timetable at this juncture is approximate. Emerson Hancock is currently filling Kirby's spot in Seattle's rotation.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Throws off mound, May return likely
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Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Monday that Kirby (shoulder) "felt great" while throwing a bullpen session over the weekend, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Kirby is set to throw two more bullpen sessions this week before beginning a game progression. While Hollander wouldn't divulge a timetable for when the right-hander will be ready for his season debut, signs are pointing to it being sometime in May. Kirby was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation back on March 7 but has made steady progress since then.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Begins season on shelf
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The Mariners placed Kirby (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Seattle hasn't provided any official updates on Kirby's status since he was placed on the IL last week, but the right-hander was able to resume his throwing program March 21 after he was briefly shut down due to shoulder inflammation. Kirby is eligible to return from the IL next Tuesday, but he looks like he'll need more time beyond that to complete his throwing progression and get fully stretched out for starting duty. Emerson Hancock secured a spot in the Mariners' Opening Day rotation as a result of Kirby's injury.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Will throw again Saturday
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Kirby (shoulder) made 20 throws from 60 feet Friday and will expand his throwing distance to 75 feet Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Kirby was cleared to begin a throwing program Friday, two weeks after being sidelined with right shoulder inflammation. The right-hander was given a biologics injection last week, which he said definitely helped speed along the healing process. There is no timetable for when Kirby will be ready to make his season debut, as the Mariners will have to see how he responds to the ramp-up.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Hopes to start playing catch soon
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Kirby (shoulder) hopes to begin playing catch in the next few days, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
After receiving an injection last week, Kirby has since resumed strengthening exercises but will remain in Arizona for three more weeks to continue his rehab. The Mariners shut Kirby down from throwing on March 7 due to right shoulder inflammation, and the star right-hander's timetable for a return remains up in the air a bit. With Kirby's throwing program still yet to begin, it sounds like fantasy managers shouldn't plan on having him available until mid-April at the earliest. "I'm hoping to get back up there by the middle of April," Kirby said.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Headed to IL with shoulder issue
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Kirby has been shut down from throwing due to right shoulder inflammation and will begin the season on the injured list, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Kirby was not bouncing back well from his outings and had an MRI done, which came back negative. The right-hander wanted to keep throwing, but he was overruled and is slated to start the season on the IL. There is no timetable for when Kirby might be allowed to throw again. With Kirby sidelined, Emerson Hancock is likely to open the season in the Mariners' rotation.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Receives $4.3 million from Seattle
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The Mariners and Kirby avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.3 million contract Thursday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
It's a substantial raise for Kirby, who was eligible for arbitration for the first time as a Super 2 qualifier. The right-hander collected a 3.53 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 179:23 K:BB over 191 innings covering 33 starts for Seattle in 2024.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Fans six in quality start
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Kirby (14-11) hurled six innings of one-run ball to pick up the win Wednesday against Houston, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out six.
Kirby was shaky to start this one, plunking Jeremy Pena and issuing a rare base on balls in the opening frame. Kirby settled in shortly thereafter, cruising through six innings to pick up his third consecutive quality start and his 20th overall. Kirby showcased his historic control yet again this season, leading MLB with a 7.9 K/BB and a microscopic 1.1 BB/9. The 26-year-old will end the regular season with a 3.53 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 179:23 K:BB in 191 innings (33 starts). The right-hander's combination of pinpoint control and durability makes him one of the most reliable pitchers in fantasy, although his modest strikeout totals cap his ceiling.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Allows one hit Sunday
Rotowire
Kirby (12-11) got the win Sunday over the Rangers after tossing seven scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out three.
The lone hit against Kirby was a single in the second inning and he immediately got a double-play ball on the very next pitch. It was Kirby's 27th quality start with zero walks since 2022, which is seven more than any other player over that span. Seven innings ties his longest outing of the year, and it was his first time going that deep since July 26. His strikeout numbers have dipped a bit lately, as he's struck out fewer than five batters in four of his last five starts. Overall, Kirby is enjoying another strong campaign with a 3.62 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 169:22 K:BB in 179 innings. His next start projects to come on the road against the Rangers again this weekend.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Surrenders two homers
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Kirby (11-11) took the loss Tuesday against the Padres, allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings.
Three of the seven hits allowed by Kirby went for extra bases, which included a three-run blast from Fernando Tatis in the third and a two-run shot by Manny Machado in the fifth to knock Kirby from the game. He's now allowed 28 runs over his last 31 innings. It was the third time over his last six starts allowing at least five runs and his third game allowing multiple home runs. The 26-year-old will carry a 3.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 166:22 K:BB (172 innings) into a start at home against the Rangers this weekend.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Fans nine in win
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Kirby (11-10) picked up the win over Oakland on Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings while striking out nine.
Kirby surrendered one run in the opening frame after giving up back-to-back hits to start the inning. However, he would then go on to strike out eight of the next 11 batters he faced in the contest en route to posting just his second quality start since July 26 against the White Sox. The right-hander also recorded his second-highest strikeout total of the season Wednesday while securing his third win in his last four decisions. On the downside, Kirby has now allowed multiple runs in seven consecutive starts.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Inefficient in 10th loss
Rotowire
Kirby (9-10) took the loss Saturday, giving up three runs on nine hits and a walk over 4.2 innings as the Mariners were downed 4-3 by the Giants. He struck out three.
The right-hander failed to complete five innings for the second time in his last three starts, but only the fourth time in 2024, with the other two short outings coming back in April. Kirby exited after 95 pitches (63 strikes), and through four starts in August he sports an uncharacteristic 6.52 ERA and 1.91 WHIP despite a 20:5 K:BB through 19.1 innings. He'll look to escape the doldrums in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend against the Angels.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Back on track
Rotowire
Kirby (9-9) earned the win Sunday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings against the Pirates. He struck out five.
Kirby scattered just two hits through the first five innings as the Mariners provided the righty a 7-0 cushion. A Joey Bart two-run homer in the sixth was the first and only blemish against Kirby, who contributed his 16th quality start of the season. The 26-year-old righty put a halt to the Mariners' five-game skid, rebounding from allowing career highs in runs (11) and hits (13) against Detroit in his last start to allow two runs or fewer for the 17th time over 25 starts. He'll carry a 3.40 ERA and 1.08 WHIP into a scheduled home matchup next week against the Giants.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Allows two homers in no-decision
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Kirby took the loss against the Tigers on Wednesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out seven.
Kirby had a hard time with Detroit's lineup out of the gate, coughing up a leadoff homer to Wenceel Perez to open the contest before also surrendering runs in the third and fourth innings. The right-hander allowed multiple long balls on the night, something he hadn't done since June 21 against the Marlins (span of seven starts), and he's now failed to make it through six innings in back-to-back outings. Still, Kirby has not given up more than three runs in any start since May 24 and currently holds a 3.14 ERA on the season.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Generates another quality start
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Kirby didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Blue Jays, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk over six-plus innings. He struck out eight.
Kirby posted a sixth straight quality start and left the contest having allowed just one run. However, he left a pair of runners on the basepaths, both of which came in to score on a George Springer home run to finalize Kirby's earned run total at three. Kirby is tied for the 10th most quality starts in baseball and ranks top-10 in innings pitched with 111.2. He owns a 3.39 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP along with an outstanding 109:11 K:BB on the year. He's scheduled to face the Angels next weekend.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Sharp in seventh win
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Kirby (7-5) allowed one run on four hits while striking out seven over six innings to earn the win Wednesday over the Rays.
Kirby had his way with the Rays on Wednesday as he managed to get through six innings for his third win in his last five starts. Kirby has been on a tear, allowing two runs or less in six consecutive starts, posting a 1.70 ERA with three walks and 40 strikeouts in that span. He has the third best ERA in MLB since May and he'll look to keep it going in a tough matchup vs. the Orioles next week.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Strong outing wasted Friday
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Kirby came away with a no-decision in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Marlins, allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The 26-year-old right-hander reeled off his third straight quality start and ninth of the season on an efficient 85 pitches (60 strikes), but Kirby was denied his seventh win of the year when the Seattle offense went cold after the second inning. He'll take a 3.47 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and dazzling 89:9 K:BB through 93.1 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next week in Tampa Bay.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Fires seven innings
Rotowire
Kirby allowed a run on five hits over seven innings in a no-decision Sunday. He struck out four during the win over the Royals.
The lone run to score on Kirby came via a sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning. After a shaky stretch in May, he's back to looking like his usual self recently; over his last three starts, Kirby has posted a 2.00 ERA and 21:1 K:BB. He was in line for the win after his seventh quality start of 2024 before the Royals tied up the game in the ninth inning. Kirby is now sporting a 3.81 ERA with a terrific 78:7 K:BB through 80.1 frames. His next start is lined up to be at home against the Rangers.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Fans eight in no-decision
Rotowire
Kirby did not factor into the decision in a win over the Astros on Wednesday, allowing one run on six hits over six innings while striking out eight.
Kirby retired the first eight batters he faced to open the contest and didn't allow an extra-base hit over his six innings of work. The right-hander induced 15 swings and misses on the night en route to posting his highest strikeout total in his last six starts. He's now gone six or more innings in four consecutive outings, though he's posted quality starts in only two of those appearances. Kirby has also walked only two batters over six starts in May.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Falls to Washington
Rotowire
Kirby (4-5) took the loss Friday against the Nationals, allowing five runs on six hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out three.
Kirby was hurt by the home-run ball Friday, with all five runs coming on a pair of long balls. The 26-year-old Kirby's hit a rough patch recently, allowing four or more runs in three of his last four outings. His ERA is up to 4.33 despite a solid 1.03 WHIP and 57:6 K:BB over 11 starts (62.1 innings). Kirby will look to get back on track in his next outing, currently lined up for next week at home against the Astros.
