Blue Jays at Mariners
Felix Hernandez returns to the mound when the Seattle Mariners attempt to record their sixth win in seven contests as they host the struggling Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Seattle had its four-game winning streak snapped in Tampa Bay on Wednesday but bounced back to post a 7-4 victory over Toronto in the series opener.
J.P. Crawford and Omar Narvaez belted solo homers while Dee Gordon went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Mariners, who returned home following a 6-3 road trip. Crawford has gone 7-for-16 and scored six runs during his four-game hitting streak while Narvaez has hit 18 home runs in 105 games during his initial season in Seattle after totaling 12 in 221 contests over three campaigns with the Chicago White Sox. Teoscar Hernandez went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and rookie Bo Bichette registered three hits on Friday as the Blue Jays suffered their sixth consecutive loss. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. notched one of Toronto's 11 hits in the setback and is 6-for-12 over his last four contests.
TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Brock Stewart (2-0, 7.43 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (1-4, 6.52)
Stewart is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Buffalo for the third time this month in order to follow an "opener". The first two times proved to be successes as the 27-year-old native of Illinois recorded victories after allowing three runs and seven hits over 9 1/3 innings. Stewart will be following Wilmer Font, who gave up a hit and two walks while registering four strikeouts in two scoreless frames as the "opener" against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Hernandez the 2010 American League Cy Young Award winner, will be activated from the injured list and make the start after being sidelined for over three months with a strained shoulder. The 33-year-old Venezuelan has not been on the mound since May 11, when he was battered for seven runs on six hits and three walks over 2 1/3 innings in a loss at Boston. Hernandez, who has lost four straight decisions since winning his season debut, is 7-6 with one complete game and a 4.00 ERA in 17 career starts against Toronto.
WALK-OFFS
1. Gordon is riding an eight-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 17 of his last 19 contests.
2. The Mariners parted ways with RHP Cory Gearrin, who was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees after going 0-2 with a 3.92 ERA in two starts and 46 relief appearances this year.
3. Toronto RHP Ryan Tepera (elbow) and Seattle OF Braden Bishop (spleen) were sent to Triple-A Buffalo and Triple-A Tacoma, respectively, for rehab assignments.