Matt

Brash

Andrés Muñoz hadn’t pitched in a week and it wasn’t at all clear that there would be a save chance tonight, so the Mariners used him in a tie game in the eighth. As it turned out, he picked up the win after the Mariners broke a 5-5 tie by scoring one run in the top of the ninth. Brash then got his first chance to close since elbow surgery and retired Willi Castro, Ryan Jeffers and Harrison Bader in order. Brash hasn’t allowed a run in 14 1/3 innings since coming off the IL on May 3.

Muñoz came in to close out a 6-5 lead in the 10th, but immediately gave up a run on a single to Jacob Wilson. The run was unearned because it was the inherited runner to open the inning, but it still causes him to blow his first save. This could have been worse as Muñoz loaded the bases with nobody out, but pulled off a magic trick by not allowing another run while striking out the side. There’s a good chance he won’t be available for Tuesday’s contest as he needed 28 pitches to get through Monday’s action. That could put Matt Brash or Gabe Speier in position to vulture a save tomorrow.

Brash was making his first appearance since September 30, 2023 after missing all of 2024 and the first month of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He gave up a groundball single to Jonah Heim, but then struck out Adolis Garcia and got Josh Jung to hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Brash isn’t likely to get save chances, but he’s been one of the best swing-and-miss relievers in the sport when healthy. He’s a player to consider in deeper fantasy leagues.

Brash will make his long-awaited return to Seattle’s bullpen after missing all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 26-year-old righty boasts one of the sharpest sliders in the game and figures to operate in high-leverage spots in short order helping bridge the gap to closer Andrés Muñoz.

Brash, coming off Tommy John surgery, gave up three well-hit balls, but the two grounders found gloves and the double proved harmless in a quick, seven-pitch inning. The two fastballs he threw checked in at 97.1 and 96.6 mph, which is a bit down from the 98.2 mph he averaged in 2023 but still probably good enough to get outs in the Seattle bullpen. He should be activated around the end of the month.

Brash is creeping closer to starting a minor league rehab assignment as he enters the final stages of his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The 26-year-old righty got into one Cactus League contest and should be ready to rejoin Seattle’s high-leverage mix in late April or early May, barring something unexpected.

Brash made his spring debut Monday, and barring a setback, he should join the Mariners pen in mid-to-late April.

Brash struck out two and issued one walk in his first Cactus League appearance of the spring. The 26-year-old righty missed all of last year recovering from Tommy John surgery. He figures to be an option for Seattle’s high-leverage mix at some point in April.

It’ll be the first live BP for Brash, and as Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times notes, it’s a big step for the 26-year-old. The right-hander missed all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but has some of the best swing-and-miss stuff of any reliever in baseball. He’s expected to join the Seattle bullpen at some point in late April.

Dipoto added that Brash hasn’t experienced any setbacks during his rehabilitation process from last year’s persistent elbow issues and is expected to be ready to throw at the outset of spring training. There are zero guarantees until he gets into game action, but the 26-year-old righty should be ready to rejoin Seattle’s high-leverage mix behind stopper Andrés Muñoz by the end of April.