Blue Jays at Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are soaring after a string of solid performances and look to post another victory when they host the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Seattle has won 10 of its last 12 games after Friday's 4-2 victory, its first in five attempts against the Blue Jays this season.
The Mariners are 7-2 during an 11-game homestand that concludes Sunday and have averaged 7.9 runs in the seven victories. Robinson Cano has dipped into a mini-funk as he is 4-for-23 over his last six contests. Jose Bautista displayed signs of breaking out of his slump as he went 2-for-3 with a homer in the opener after going 2-for-28 with 10 strikeouts over Toronto's previous seven games. Josh Donaldson went 2-for-4 on Friday and is 13-for-37 with five homers over his past 10 games.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Sportsnet (Toronto), ROOT (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (6-2, 3.25 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Ariel Miranda (6-2, 3.74)
Stroman has won his last five decisions and has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his last nine outings. The 26-year-old is 4-0 with a 3.34 ERA in five road starts this season. Stroman struck out nine over six innings in a no-decision against the Mariners on May 13, when he gave up two runs and eight hits in his first career turn against the club.
Miranda has won three straight starts and five consecutive decisions while limiting hitters to a composite .219 average this season. The 28-year-old Cuban tossed his first career complete game in his last effort, when he gave up one run and four hits against Tampa Bay while matching his career high of nine strikeouts. Miranda settled for a no-decision against Toronto on May 13 after giving up one run and three hits with eight strikeouts in five innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners DH Nelson Cruz (calf) was hitless in three at-bats in the opener after a two-game absence.
2. Toronto C Russell Martin is 0-for-10 with five strikeouts in three games since returning from a neck injury.
3. Seattle OF Mitch Haniger (oblique) is expected to return either Saturday or Sunday after missing the last six-plus weeks.