The Royals are only a half-game behind us so I cannot possibly overstate the importance of winning this game. Gotta brush that dirt off our shoulder as we climb to the top.
| Ichiro, RF | Dyson, CF | |
| Figgins, 3B | Zawadzki, SS | |
| Bradley, DH | Butler, 1B | |
| Smoak, 1B | Cabrera, RF | |
| Tuiasosopo, LF | Gordon, LF | |
| Rodriguez, 2B | Betemit, DH | |
| Saunders, CF | Pena, C | |
| Jo Wilson, SS | Feliz, 3B | |
| Moore, C | Falu, 2B | |
| Fister, SP | Chen, SP |
The Mariners offer more of a Major League lineup than they did last night, although it still leaves much to be desired. The Royals, meanwhile, are attacking Fister with two lefties and five switch-hitters. Those five switch-hitters are Lance Zawadzki, Melky Cabrera, Wilson Betemit, Brayan Pena, and Irving Falu, which is a murderer's row if I've ever seen one. That is a row of murderers. All five of those players have murdered.
The hope is that Fister will find his release point and delivery with the season fast approaching. Available to pitch behind him will be Jamey Wright, Royce Ring and Brandon League, with Steven Richard, Bobby LaFramboise and Robert Rohrbaugh trekking over from minor league camp to suit up. Rohrbaugh appears to have mastered the AA Southern League, so that's great for him. Available to pitch behind Bruce Chen will be Robinson Tejeda, Joakim Soria, Jeremy Jeffress, and somebody named Robert Fish. You never like to see the manager give him the hook!
Here's your Gameday link, and I think MLB.com subscribers will get Royals radio. So that's a treat.