Reds at Mariners
Seattle rookie outfielder Kyle Lewis tries to break up a no-hitter with a home run for the third straight time to start his career when the Mariners seek a three-game sweep of the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Lewis spoiled Sonny Gray's bid with a go-ahead three-run shot in the seventh inning of Wednesday's 5-3 victory - Seattle's 15th in 17 tries against Cincinnati - after his first career hit came in the fifth inning of Tuesday's 4-3 win.
Mariners right-hander Justin Dunn makes his major league debut. The 19th overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Mets was one of five players acquired by Seattle when it traded Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to New York prior to the 2018 season. "I really still haven’t figured out how to put it into words, other than that it’s just my childhood dream has come true,” Dunn told reporters. “I’m excited to get out there and finally take the mound.” The Reds' Tyler Mahle tries snap a personal 10-game winless streak when he takes the ball Thursday.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), ROOT Sports (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Tyler Mahle (2-11, 4.94 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Justin Dunn (NR)
Mahle allowed five runs and six hits (two home runs) in 4 1/3 innings of a 7-5 loss versus Arizona on Friday. The 24-year-old Californian is 0-6 with a 5.75 ERA and recorded three quality starts in his four no-decisions during the drought. Mahle, who has never faced Seattle, has a 1.28 WHIP with 114 strikeouts in 113 innings this season.
Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters that Dunn will be used every fifth day along with veteran left-hander Tommy Milone, who will relieve or start. Dunn, a 23-year-old New York native, went 9-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 25 games - all starts - with Double-A Arkansas this season. Dunn was perfect in his penultimate outing with Arkansas on Aug. 26, retiring all 12 batters he faced with eight strikeouts on 49 pitches (36 strikes).
WALK-OFFS
1. Seattle 3B Kyle Seager needs three home runs to become the fourth player to hit 200 as a Mariner, joining Ken Griffey Jr. (417), Edgar Martinez (309) and Jay Buhner (307).
2. Cincinnati 3B Eugenio Suarez has 78 home runs since the start of 2018 - 44 this season - and trails only the Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout (94) and Milwaukee's Christian Yelich (80) during that span.
3. Seattle has used 65 players this season, breaking the previous major league record of 64 set by Texas in 2014.