The Seattle Mariners faced another disappointing defeat with a 5-2 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays, as Mariners’ ace Luis Castillo continues to stumble in the early season, with Monday night’s game at the Rogers Centre highlighting his struggles. Castillo’s performance was described as "not consistent" by Mariners manager Scott Servais, who lamented the team’s failure to “put a full game together either on the mound or at the plate right now” in a statement obtained by The Seattle Times.
While the Blue Jays enjoyed the lift of a home opener at their renovated Rogers Centre in front of a sold-out crowd, Castillo served up four runs on nine hits, struggled across five innings with a ballooning ERA of 6.89, a downgrade Mariners fans are scratching their heads at, considering his electric wildcard game performance back in October 2022. "I’m working, I’m working hard,” Castillo said through interpreter Freddy Llanos, emphasizing the rough patch won’t last forever—highlighted by FOX 13 Seattle.
On the flip side, Blue Jays’ starting pitcher José Berríos shined with 6 2/3 scoreless innings, contributing significantly to snapping the team's two-game losing streak; he managed to suppress the Mariners to just four hits, including three off the bat of Ty France. Blue Jays manager John Schneider lauded Berríos, acknowledging the pitcher's key role given the depleted bullpen, as per remarks given to Big Country News Connection.
The Mariners’ inability to gain traction this season has fans on edge, with the team dropping five of their last six games, though solo home runs by J.P. Crawford and Cal Raleigh offered a glimpse of promise, their contributions were not nearly enough to shift the tide against a determined Blue Jays squad that was powered by notable performances from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Davis Schneider. "I’m not used to seeing him give up this many hits," Seattle manager Scott Servais said further acknowledging Castillo's unusual pitching slump this season—casting a concerning shadow over the Mariners’ early 2024 campaign, as quoted by FOX 13 Seattle.
