Ichiro Suzuki gets the start in what could be his last MLB game

Seattle Mariners’ Ichiro Suzuki fouls a ball in the fourth inning of Game 1 of a Major League opening series baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

TOKYO — Ichiro Suzuki is in the starting lineup for the Mariners against the Oakland Athletics in what might be his last game in the majors.

Seattle manager Scott Servais had earlier hinted that, after Ichiro started in a season-opening victory against the A’s on Wednesday, he might not start on Thursday in the final game of the brief series.

Servais says: I wasn’t quite sure. I thought we’d give him the opportunity to go out there. And I’d love to see him get a couple of hits and finish on a high note here.”

The future of 45-year-old Ichiro is unclear. Many expect him to retire after the Japan series, or when the Mariners return home for two spring training games with the San Diego Padres before the regular season resumes against the Boston Red Sox.