The Mariners Monday selected RHP Thyago Vieira from AAA Tacoma and, to make room on the 25-man major league roster, optioned RHP Christian Bergman back to the Rainiers. Vieira was available to the club when it began a three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles at Safeco Field.
Vieira, 24, makes his MLB debut with his first appearance. He earned two saves while posting a 3.18 ERA in seven appearances with Tacoma. Prior to being promoted to the Rainiers July 19, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Brazilian made 29 outings with AA Arkansas, going 2-3 with two saves and a 3.72 ERA.
Vieira (pronounced chee-AH-go vee-AIR-ah) pitched for Brazil in the 2017 All-Star Futures Game against the U.S. Futures squad.
A native of Sao Paulo, Vieira signed with Seattle as a non-drafted free agent Sept. 21, 2010. In parts of seven minor league seasons, Vieira is 14-18 with 13 saves and a 4.53 ERA in 144 games (28 starts).
Bergman, 29, made two relief appearances with the Mariners since being selected from Tacoma prior to Saturday’s game. He combined for five scoreless innings, including four Sunday vs. the Angels.
Overall, Bergman is 4-4 with a 4.91 ERA in 11 games (eight starts) over two stints with Seattle this season. In 14 starts with Tacoma, Bergman is 8-3 with a 4.88 ERA.
The Mariners (59-60), after getting swept by the Angels in four games, throw RHP Yovani Gallardo (5-7, 5.38) against the Orioles. RHP Kevin Gausman (8-8, 5.21) will counter for Baltimore.
