YUSEI KIKUCHI NEWS

Nola drives in 4, Mariners snap Dodgers streak with 6-4 win

Austin Nola hit a three-run home run and had four RBIs, Taijuan Walker overcame early long-ball issues to throw seven strong inning, and the Seattle Mariners beat Los Angeles 6-4,...

AUGUST 20, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Looking good to start Thursday Manager Scott Servais said after Kikuchi (neck) completed a bullpen session Tuesday that he's "pretty confident' the left-hander will be ready to start Thursday against the Dodgers...

Impact Barring a setback in the next 24 hours, Kikuchi will be ready to make his first start since Aug. 7 after neck spasms prevented him from making his last scheduled turn Friday in Houston. Kikuchi has posted a 5.28 ERA through his three outings this season, but a big uptick in velocity from 2019 to go with strong underlying numbers (2.23 FIP, 16.1 K-BB%, 57.5 GB%) could make the southpaw worthy of a pickup if he's sitting on the waiver wire.

AUGUST 19, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Gonzales scheduled to start for Mariners at Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers play the Seattle Mariners

AUGUST 18, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Likely to make next start Kikuchi (neck) is feeling better and is likely to make his next start Thursday against the Dodgers, the Associated Press reports.

Impact The left-hander was scratched from Friday's start against the Astros due to neck spasms, but after taking muscle relaxers over the weekend, Kikuchi is apparently firmly on the road to recovery. Nestor Cortes stepped in as the emergency starter in the 29-year-old's stead Friday and yielded eight runs (seven earned) on five hits over one-third of an inning, so manager Scott Servais will undoubtedly be glad to see Kikuchi back in the rotation.

AUGUST 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Stripling scheduled to start for Los Angeles against Seattle

The Seattle Mariners visit the Los Angeles Dodgers

AUGUST 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tucker hits game-ending homer as Astros sweep Mariners 3-2

Kyle Tucker hit a game-ending homer in the ninth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2 for their fourth straight win

AUGUST 16, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taking medication for neck issue Kikuchi, who was scratched from his scheduled start Friday against the Astros due to neck spasms, was still dealing with stiffness Saturday and taking muscle relaxers for relief, G...

Impact Manager Scott Servais added that Kikuchi was going to try and play catch later in the day to see how he felt. The team is holding out hope the southpaw will still make his next scheduled start Thursday against the Dodgers, but the coming days will naturally reveal how likely that is.

AUGUST 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Javier expected to start as Houston hosts Seattle

The Seattle Mariners visit the Houston Astros

AUGUST 15, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alvarez HR in 2020 debut, Astros score 9 in 1st, beat M's

Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat of the season after recovering from COVID-19, connecting during a nine-run burst in the first inning that sent the Houston...

AUGUST 15, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cole wins 20th straight regular-season game, Yanks top BoSox

AUGUST 15, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kikuchi (neck spasms) scratched in Houston Mariners left-hander Yusei Kikuchi was scratched from Friday night’s series opener against the Astros just 45 minutes before the first pitch...

AUGUST 15, 2020 • MLB.COM

Scratched from start Kikuchi was scratched from his scheduled start Friday with neck spasms, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Impact Kikuchi was scratched with approximately half an hour remaining until the first pitch, and Nestor Cortes will step in as an emergency starter against the Astros. The severity of the issue is unclear, and whether Kikuchi misses any additional time remains to be seen.

AUGUST 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Valdez expected to start for the Astros against the Mariners

The Seattle Mariners visit the Houston Astros

AUGUST 14, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Takes first loss Kikuchi (0-1) was charged with the loss against the Rockies on Friday, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts across 5.2 innings.

Impact After issuing a lead-off walk to start the game, Kikuchi focused his command and refrained from handing out any more free passes. The 29-year-old surrendered a pair of runs in the third inning and another two in the sixth, scattering six hits, only two of which went for extra bases (both doubles). In fact, his ability to produce weak contact means he has yet to allow any home runs so far this season. The southpaw will look to improve upon a 5.28 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in Houston on Friday.

AUGUST 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Murphy drives in 4, Rockies keep rolling, beat M's 8-4

Daniel Murphy had a key two-run single and later hit a two-run home run, Garrett Hampson and Charlie Blackmon added solo shots, and the Colorado Rockies won for the sixth time in s...

AUGUST 8, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays hold Yankees to 2 hits in 1-0 win

AUGUST 8, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Colorado Rockies game no. 13 thread: Antonio Senzatela vs. Yusei Kikuchi Rockies roll into Seattle looking for another series win

AUGUST 8, 2020 • PURPLEROW.COM

Kikuchi scheduled to start for Seattle against Colorado

The Seattle Mariners host the Colorado Rockies

AUGUST 7, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Murphy's pinch-hit HR lifts Rockies over Giants 6-4

Daniel Murphy hit a two-run, pinch-homer during a five-run seventh inning to lead the Colorado Rockies over the San Francisco Giants 6-4

AUGUST 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ohtani homers, Bundy brilliant as Angels top Mariners 6-1

Shohei Ohtani homered in his first plate appearance since being shut down as a pitcher, Dylan Bundy struck out 10 in the third complete game of his career and the Los Angeles Angel...

AUGUST 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Athletics use late rally for 3-2 victory over Mariners

Pinch-hitter Robbie Grossman lined an RBI double to score Tony Kemp in the top of the 10th inning, and the Oakland Athletics rallied for a 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners

AUGUST 2, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fans nine over six scoreless Kikuchi allowed three hits and one walk over six scoreless innings in a no-decision against the A's on Saturday. He struck out nine.

Impact This was a big improvement on Kikuchi's first start (five runs on five hits and four walks with four strikeouts over 3.2 innings in Houston). He induced 20 swinging strikes on 89 pitches and fell just one strikeout short of tying his career high. Kikuchi had some buzz back in spring training due to the increased velocity he was showing and indeed his fastball is up several ticks. The lefty is still probably best viewed as a streamer, but he could separate himself from the pack with a few more starts like this. Kikuchi gets the Rockies at home next week.

AUGUST 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Out of Saturday's lineup Kemp is not in the lineup for Saturday's game at Seattle.

Impact Kemp is 0-for-7 with two runs, a stolen base and two walks through nine plate appearances, and he'll hit the bench with southpaw Yusei Kikuchi on the mound for the Mariners. Chad Pinder will receive the start at second base for the A's.

AUGUST 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Kikuchi expected to start as Seattle hosts Oakland

The Seattle Mariners host the Oakland Athletics

AUGUST 1, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taijuan Walker overpowering as Mariners beat Athletics 5-3

Taijuan Walker threw one-hit ball over seven innings, Kyle Lewis recorded his sixth straight multi-hit game, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 5-3

AUGUST 1, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS