Here are the lineups for the Seattle Mariners’ critical game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon at Safeco Field:
TORONTO
Devon Travis, 2B
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Jose Bautista, RF
Russell Martin, C
Troy Tulowitzki, SS
Michael Saunders, LF
Justin Smoak, 1B
Kevin Pillar, CF
Starting pitcher: Right-hander Aaron Sanchez (13-2, 3.17).
SEATTLE
Norichika Aoki, LF
Seth Smith, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Adam Lind, 1B
Leonys Martin, CF
Jesus Sucre, C
Ketel Marte, SS
Starting pitcher: Right-hander Felix Hernandez (11-6, 3.79).
If ever a game was set up for a last stand, this is it. The Mariners, having burst back into the race for an AL Wild Card spot, have lost four of five at home against teams they’re jockeying for position with. They now find themselves in fifth place in the race for two Wild Card berths, three games behind Baltimore for the last spot with just 11 games remanining in the season. It truly feels like now or never for the Mariners.
It couldn’t be more appropriate that Seattle sends King Felix to the mound in this one. Hernandez has been the Mariners’ ace and the lone shining light throughout the last decade of futility. If anyone was going to save Seattle’s season one would think it would be Hernandez. Yet Hernandez has not pitched like the King this season. So in a way, should Seattle lose today, there’d be a certain appropriateness to the King being dethroned, too.
First pitch for the matinee is 12:40 p.m.
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