Mariners bring Tyler Locklear into the team for the series finale on Thursday

Tyler Locklear is back in the squad for the Seattle Mariners on Thursday morning when they close the series with the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.

He bats seventh as the M’s face left-hander Logan Allen, ahead of Mitch Haniger and behind him Victor Robles.

Locklear’s playing time has become a contentious issue for M’s fans and is being debated. Locklear, who ranks 8th among all the organization’s young players according to MLB.com, filled in for Ty France two weeks ago, who broke his heel. He hit two home runs and showed a solid and sharp eye.

The team is better with him, but with the return from France there was no room for Locklear in the last two games. I wrote on Wednesday about the balancing act between improving the M’s and actually developing Locklear.

Is it better to have Locklear on the roster and take playing time away from someone else? Or is it better to have him on the bench, where he’ll be a solid threat off the bench but won’t get the hitting opportunities he needs to become a better player?

Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports, by the way, responded to a post I had on “X” on Wednesday about his situation:

Mike Lefko of Seattle Sports pointed out that the M’s will also face left-handed hitters in every game of the upcoming Marlins series.

Regardless of what happens in the future, Locklear will be in the lineup on Thursday and will play a big role in giving the M’s another series win.

Seattle starts the game with a 44-32 lead. First pitch is at 10:10 a.m. PT.

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