It is that weird, quiet stretch of the calendar where the Pacific Northwest is mostly gray and everyone is just waiting for the first scent of cut grass. If you are asking what time do mariners play today, you might be looking for one of two very different things depending on which sport you follow. In the world of professional sports, "Mariners" is a name shared by a major league baseball powerhouse and a gritty minor league hockey team.
Honestly, it gets confusing if you just check a generic score app.
For the Maine Mariners of the ECHL, they are right in the thick of a heated winter season. They are hitting the ice today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM EST. They’re facing off against the Worcester Railers at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. It is a massive game for them because they’re essentially fighting for their playoff lives, sitting just one point ahead of Worcester in the North Division standings. If you want to watch, it’s streaming on FloSports.
Now, if you were looking for Julio Rodríguez and the Seattle Mariners, the situation is a bit different.
When Does Seattle Baseball Actually Start?
The MLB season doesn’t start in January. Right now, T-Mobile Park is basically a very expensive, very cold outdoor refrigerator. But the wait isn’t as long as it feels. We are currently in the "Winter Warmup" phase.
The Seattle Mariners won't play an actual game today. Their first live action for the 2026 season happens in the desert. Spring Training is the next big milestone. The Mariners open their Cactus League schedule on February 20, 2026, against the San Diego Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex. That game is set for 1:10 PM MST (12:10 PM PST).
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If you are looking for a reason to go to the ballpark before then, you're in luck. Mariners FanFest is making a huge comeback at T-Mobile Park on January 31 and February 1. It is the first time they’ve done it since 2019, and the Saturday tickets are already sold out. You can still grab Sunday tickets for about $23, and that's when you can actually run the bases or play catch in the outfield.
Breaking Down the 2026 Key Dates
It’s easy to lose track of the MLB timeline when you're just staring at a blank TV screen on a Saturday night. Here is how the next few months shake out for the M's:
- Pitchers and Catchers Report: February 12, 2026. This is the official "thaw" of the baseball season.
- First Full Squad Workout: February 17, 2026. This is when the big names like Cal Raleigh and George Kirby start taking reps.
- Cactus League Opener: February 20 vs. San Diego.
- Opening Day: March 26, 2026. Seattle hosts the Cleveland Guardians at 7:10 PM PST.
Why People Get Confused About Mariners Game Times
There is a funny thing that happens with search engines. Because the ECHL (hockey) and MLB (baseball) share the "Mariners" moniker, schedules often get crossed in automated results. If you saw a listing for a game at 6:00 PM today, that's the hockey team in Maine. They just lost a tough 3-2 shootout to the Railers last night, so they are looking for revenge tonight.
If you’re a hockey fan in New England, today’s game is a big deal. The Maine Mariners are led by Brooklyn Kalmikov, who has 25 points on the season so far. Watching minor league hockey is a totally different vibe than a night at T-Mobile Park—it's louder, colder, and way more physical.
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For the baseball fans in Seattle, today is mostly about the "Hot Stove" rumors. The front office has been busy. They recently acquired Josh Naylor to bolster the lineup, and fans are dying to see how he fits in the middle of the order next to Julio.
How to Watch the Games
When the baseball season actually kicks off, you'll be looking at ROOT SPORTS for most of the local broadcasts. For the hockey team playing today, you need a subscription to FloSports, or you can listen to the radio broadcast via the Mariners of Maine website.
- Today's Hockey Game: 6:00 PM EST on FloSports.
- Future Baseball Games: Most evening games in Seattle start at 6:40 PM or 7:10 PM PST.
The Verdict on Today’s Schedule
So, to recap the answer to what time do mariners play today: if you mean the hockey team, be ready at 6:00 PM EST. If you mean the baseball team, you have about 34 days of waiting left before the first pitch in Peoria.
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It’s a long winter, but FanFest at the end of the month is the perfect bridge to get through the January blues. If you're planning to go to the home opener on March 26, tickets are already on sale, and they are moving fast because the Guardians are always a tough draw.
Keep an eye on the weather if you're headed to the arena in Portland today—the ice is inside, but the Maine winter is definitely outside. For the Seattle crowd, keep your jerseys in the closet for a few more weeks. Spring is coming, just not today.
To stay ahead of the curve, you should check the official MLB app for any surprise roster moves this week. If you're looking for hockey tickets for tonight's clash at Cross Insurance Arena, they are still available on the primary market for under $30.