Arrow-right Camera

Color Scheme

Subscribe now
Seattle Mariners

Mariners Pregame: Seattle looks for two straight over Rays, lineups and starters

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Sam Gaviglio delivers to Colorado Rockies' Charlie Blackmon in the first inning of an interleague baseball game Monday, May 29, 2017, in Denver. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

Game 57: The Seattle Mariners (26-30) host the Tampa Bay Rays (29-28) at 7:10 p.m. at Safeco Field.

Saturday’s game continues and 11-game, four-team homestand. Seattle split a two-game series with the Colorado Rockies this week to begin the homestand.

The M’s head into Saturday after routing the Rays 12-4 on Friday. Taylor Motter, who took over Jean Segura after the shortstop was placed on the 10-day disabled list (right ankle) on Friday for the second time this season, led Seattle with a grand slam in the first inning with two outs. Motter is hitting .211 for the Mariners this year, with six home runs and 20 RBIs.

M’s rookie right-hander Sam Gaviglio is scheduled to start Saturday, his fourth start for the Mariners.

Looking ahead: The 2017 MLB Draft begins June 12 with the first and second rounds and will extend to round 40 on June 14. The Mariners hold the 17th overall (1st round) and 55th overall (2nd round) picks. Ex-Seattle outfielder Ruppert Jones and scout Rob Mummau will represent the M’s at MLB Network Studios on the first day of the draft.

Lineups and starters

 (Courtesy @MarinersPR)
(Courtesy @MarinersPR)

Starters: RHP Sam Gaviglio (1-1, 3.50) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (4-4, 3.67)

Mariners Notes

  • Seattle’s lead-off hitters have recorded a .378 on-base percentage this year, the best mark in the MLB. That mark is the sixth-best in team history, following 2004 (.412), 2007 (.391), 2001 (.385), 2009 (.385) and 2002 (.379).
  • First baseman Danny Valencia has recorded a hit in 21 of his last 27 games. Over those 27 games, he posted a .314 batting average (33x105) with 13 runs, five doubles, a triple, four homers and 20 RBI.
  • Third baseman Kyle Seager has had at least one hit in 11 of his last 13 games. In that span, he was batting .308 (16x52) with six runs, five doubles, a home run and six RBI.

This Day in Mariners History

In 2009, Ichiro Suzuki extend his hit streak to 27 games after recording a hit in a 3-2 win over Baltimore. The 27-game streak, which began May 6 and ended on June 3, is a Mariners record for consecutive games with a hit.