Mariners Face Oakland A's In Friday Night Home Opener

SEATTLE, WA — The Mariners Home Opener will kick off with a ceremonial first pitch by Gov. Jay Inslee.

The Seattle Mariners 2020 Opening Day will be this Friday, when the team faces against the Oakland Athletics. A pregame ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ROOT SPORTS. The show will begin with a special musical performance by Ben Gibbard, a Seattle-based songwriter and lead vocalist for Death Cab for Cutie. Gibbard's performance was recorded at T-Mobile park after a recent summer camp workout and will be followed by a film of Mariners players and fans celebrating the delayed return of the summer baseball season.

After the performance, the National Anthem will be sung by Madisen Hallberg and Emmanuel Henreid, who are best for a viral performance of the Star-Spangled Banner at Portland State University's virtual graduation earlier this year.

When the anthem ends, Make-A-Wish will continue their annual Opening Day tradition with a "virtual ceremonial first run" performed by 6-year-old Lily of Snohomish. Lily is receiving treatment for Langerhans cell histiocytosis, and filmed her run around the bases of T-Mobile park earlier this summer.

The ceremonial run will be followed by a video of Washington health care workers passing a ball in a chain and encouraging fans to stay safe and healthy during the pandemic. Finally, the hand off will end with a pass to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee who will take the mound at T-Mobile Park and throw the ceremonial first pitch in person.

After the show, the Mariners will face off against the Oakland Athletics with an estimated 6:40 p.m. first pitch.