Mariners ready for break in piggyback plan that caused so much consternation

DETROIT - Bryce Miller found it a bit humorous that even though he's a starting pitcher, the most pitches he's thrown in any game this season came the one time he pitched out of the bullpen.

He'd like to change that, beginning Saturday.

"They come out before 80 (pitches), I'll be (upset)," Miller said with a laugh Friday.

The piggyback situation that caused so much consternation is dead, for now. Miller will start Saturday afternoon against Detroit and Luis Castillo will take the ball Sunday in the series finale.

No more restrictions. No more awkward exchanges or conversations. For at least the next two times through the rotation, it's close to normal. And both parties involved seem pleased it's going to be that way.

"Of course. I mean, they talked to me, they communicated to me and told me the process that's coming up, so I'm ready for it," Castillo said via team interpreter Freddy Llanos. "Like I've always said, it doesn't matter what position they put me in, I'm going to go out there and battle."

While it was at times awkwardly executed and M's management acknowledged a lack of communication early in the process, the results from using Miller and Castillo together were strikingly good. The pair combined for five earned runs in 27 innings pitched. Last Sunday was the ultimate example of how it could work out in the M's favor - both threw five innings and the bullpen didn't have to be touched in a 3-2 win over Arizona in 10 innings.

"Their approach won't be any different," M's manager Dan Wilson said. "They're routine oriented, they're going to continue to prepare and be ready to go in a very similar way, just it'll be their own game."

Miller has posted the better numbers of the two, but the piggyback situation seemed to reinvigorate Castillo's season. In his first nine games, Castillo had a 6.34 ERA. In his last three outings - two of them out of the bullpen behind Miller - his ERA is 2.38.

Last Sunday, Castillo went through his normal pregame routine as if he were starting even though it was Miller getting the nod. But doing that allowed him to get warmed up a little quicker and easier when it came time to take over in the sixth inning against the D-backs.

He also said he did it because he knows "that normalcy is going to come back."

For Miller, he's been on a six-day schedule all season to this point due to the recovery from the oblique strain suffered in spring training that delayed his start to the season.

"I feel good on five or six. It's all the same. Some weeks, you're hanging a little more and you might want that extra day, but even when we're on a normal five-man, like 50-50 half are five days, half are six," Miller said.

College baseball connection

There was a bit of an odd moment during Friday's NCAA baseball super regional between West Virginia and Cal Poly with a tie to the Mariners. Sort of.

West Virginia's Tyrus Hall, originally from Victoria, B.C., hit a grand slam early in the 12-2 victory for the Mountaineers. After he finished rounding the bases, the ESPN broadcast noted that Hall considers himself "the fourth Naylor brother along with Josh, Bo and Myles

Huh?

Asked about this before Friday's game, Josh Naylor broke out into a smile. Hall and the youngest of the Naylor brothers, Myles, are best friends who talk daily and played together on Canadian national teams when they were younger.

So, yes, calling him the fourth Naylor might be accurate.

"He's like family," Josh said.

That super regional also features Bryan Woo's former team. Through Adidas - which has an apparel deal with Cal Poly and is the brand of shoes Woo wears - the pitcher was able to help arrange for some new cleats for the Mustangs before the matchup.

Rehab weekend

Of course, there is plenty of attention on Cal Raleigh's rehab assignment that begins Sunday with Single-A Everett. But there are two other notables that started Friday.

Infielder Will Wilson is beginning a rehab assignment with Everett after being out since April 15 with a fracture of his left thumb. Infielder/outfielder Miles Mastrobuoni was also expected to play a full game with Triple-A Tacoma on Friday. Mastrobuoni is on the 60-day injured list with a right calf strain but is eligible to be activated June 19.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 4:56 PM.