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Seattle Mariners

Mariners Pregame: Andrew Albers’ second start; lineups and starters against Atlanta Braves

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Andrew Albers throws against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, in Seattle. (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press)
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

Game 126: Seattle Mariners (63-62) at Atlanta Braves (55-67) at 4:35 p.m. at SunTrust Park in suburban Atlanta.

The Mariners took two of three against Tampa Bay over the weekend, despite falling 3-0 on Sunday to Rays starter – and Seattle native – Blake Snell. The former Shorewood standout tossed seven shutout innings while allowing two hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.

The M’s are in third place in the A.L. West and 1 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Angels for the second wildcard spot. Seattle is 4-6 in its last 10 games and 29-30 on the road this season.

Atlanta is in third p lace in the N.L. East, 19 games behind the Washington Nationals (74-48). The Braves are 11 games out of a wildcard spot, are 4-6 in their last 10 games and 27-32 at home this season.

M’s starter Andrew Albers recorded a win in his Mariners debut on Aug. 15 against Baltimore (one run on six hits and a walk with four strikeouts over five innings), marking his first MLB win since Aug. 12, 2013 as a member of the Minnesota Twins against Cleveland. Dating back to 2008, Albers is the sixth Mariners starter to toss at least five innings, allow one run or fewer and record the win in his Mariners debut.

Lineups and starters

Courtesy @MarinersPR
Courtesy @MarinersPR

Starters: LHP Andrew Albers (1-0, 1.80) vs. RHP Mike Foltynewicz (10-8, 4.75)

Mariners Notes

  • The Mariners are 21-10 (.677) in their last 30 road contests since May 28, second in MLB for the span, trailing only the Dodgers (26-9, .743). Dating back to June 18, the Mariners are 16-6 (.727) in their last 22 games away from Safeco. The M’s started the season 8-20 in their first 28 road games.
  • DH Nelson Cruz has an active 12-game hitting streak, batting .422 (19 for 45) with 13 runs, five doubles, seven home runs, 16 RBI, four walks. His 12-game hitting streak is second-longest active streak in MLB.
  • Cruz has hit seven home runs in his last 11 games, nine in his last 14 games and 11 in his last 19 games. Since July 30, Cruz’s 11 home runs are second-most in MLB (also: Josh Donaldson (TOR), Joey Gallo (TEX) and Justin Upton (DET), trailing only Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton (12).
  • The flight mileage on this road trip from Seattle to Tampa Bay to Atlanta to New York to Baltimore and back to Seattle will cover approximately 7,500 miles. The Mariners will fly 45,687 miles this season, the third-highest in MLB, trailing only Oakland (49,252) and Los Angeles Angels (46,069).

This Day in Mariners History

In 2010, Casey Kotchman set the Major League record with 274 consecutive games in which he didn’t commit an error. His error came in the bottom of the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium when Curtis Granderson sharply hit a ball that he couldn’t handle. During the streak, Kotchman safely fielded 2,379 chances.