The Mariners Tuesday called up LHP Andrew Albers and RHP Sam Gaviglio from AAA Tacoma, optioned RHPs Casey Lawrence and Thyago Vieira to the Rainiers, and designated RHP Christian Bergman for assignment. Albers was to start Tuesday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles at Safeco Field, becoming the 16th pitcher to start for Seattle in 2017.
The Mariners acquired the 31-year-old Albers from Atlanta in exchange for cash in a minor league trade Aug. 11. He was assigned to Tacoma but did not appear in a game. Prior to his acquisition, Albers went 12-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 26 games (17 starts) with AAA Gwinnett in the Atlanta organization.
Over his last eight starts, he went 6-0 with a 0.98 ERA while posting seven quality starts.
In parts of three MLB seasons with Minnesota (2013 and 2016) and Toronto (2015), Albers is 2-5 with a 4.41 ERA in 17 games (12 starts). He made his MLB debut with the Twins Aug. 6, 2013 at Kansas City and is a native of North Battleford, Saskatchewan.
Gaviglio, 27, is 3-5 with a 3.70 ERA in 10 starts with Tacoma. This will be his third stint with Seattle this season. In 12 games, including 11 starts, he is 3-5 with a 4.62 ERA. He has pitched at least five innings in 10 of 11 starts. The Mariners acquired Gaviglio from St. Louis in exchange for INF Ty Kelly Nov. 20, 2014.
Lawrence, 29, is 1-0 with a 5.64 ERA in 13 relief appearances over three stints with the Mariners this season. From May 21- June 1, he held opponents to three runs in 11.2 innings over four relief appearances. Lawrence struck out nine in five innings in relief June 1 vs. Colorado, setting the single-game club record for strikeouts by a reliever. The Mariners claimed Lawrence off waivers from Toronto May 11.
Vieira, 24, made his debut with the Mariners Monday night, tossing one scoreless inning against Baltimore. He was recalled from Tacoma earlier Monday.
Bergman, 29, made two relief appearances with the Mariners since being selected from Tacoma prior to Saturday’s game. Overall, Bergman went 4-4 with a 4.91 ERA in 11 games (8 starts) over two stints.
The Mariners (59-61) have lost a season-high five in a row and stand 2.5 games behind for the second AL wild card spot. Albers was to face former Mariner Wade Miley (6-9, 5.19) Tuesday night.
