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Northwest Sports Headlines: Mariners Opening Day, ABS challenge system begins in MLB, WWU softball begins GNAC schedule and more

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel


Mariners News

Mariners Opening Day is finally upon us.

The M’s are opening their season at home tonight against the Cleveland Guardians. Logan Gilbert will be on the mound as the Mariners look to improve on a season that brought them within several outs of their first-ever World Series appearance.

They open up the 2026 season with the third-best odds to win the title in many sportsbooks.

Tonight’s game will be a reunion between Seattle first baseman Josh Naylor and his brother Bo, who played together on Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

Coverage begins at 6:00 and first pitch is at 7:10 on KGMI.

MLB News

With the new season getting underway, you’ll want to be up to date on a major rule change coming to the big leagues.

The MLB is implementing the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, or ABS, for the first time this year. The system monitors the exact location of each pitch relative to the specific batter’s zone and gives each team the power to appeal the umpire’s call.

Only the batter, pitcher and catcher can challenge the call, and they can do so by tapping their cap or helmet. Each team will start the game with two challenges apiece and they’ll only lose their challenge if it fails and the umpire’s initial call is confirmed.

ABS has been tested in the minor leagues since 2022 and in MLB spring training last year.

Kraken News

The Kraken are trying to snap their skid tonight to make it back into the playoff picture.

They’re facing the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fourth leg of their six-game road trip out east.

The struggling Kraken have dropped four straight and eight of their last 10. It was this Tampa team that kickstarted their current losing streak just last week in Seattle.

A win tonight would go a long way, as the Kraken still sit five points behind Nashville for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 12 games to go in the regular season.

Coverage begins at 3:30 and puck drops at 4 on KBAI.

WWU Vikings News

Western softball is making its way into conference play this week.

The Vikings are hosting Central Washington for a doubleheader tomorrow in their first two matches of the GNAC schedule.

Western enters this stretch of the season with a 14-11 record, boasting a mercy-rule win over Cal State East Bay, which was ranked No. 2 in the country at the time. Senior shortstop Hailey Rath has sparked the team, leading the GNAC with 10 home runs and 36 RBI.

The Viks play doubleheaders against Central tomorrow and Saturday. Tomorrow’s pair of games start at noon and 2:30 pm from Viking Field in Bellingham.

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