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Welcome to another matinee showing of Mariners baseball! I don't know if they're trying to go for a record here, but today marks the second of three 10 a.m. starts the M's have this week. As much as I appreciate the early starts, I don't quite know what to do with my evenings now.
The "glue" of the Mariners' rotation is back today for his fourth start this month. James Paxton will be facing off against the Phillies in the rubber match of the series, touting a 3-0 record since his return from the disabled list. In his last start, he shut down the Tigers' offense in six innings, issuing five hits, a run, a walk, and two strikeouts. As should be expected for a 25-year-old with nine MLB appearances under his belt, this will be Paxton's first time pitching against Philadelphia.
The trade market has no idea whether 30-year-old Cole Hamels is staying or going. In July, the prevailing rumor was that the Phillies refused to field offers for their southpaw. In August, that tune has changed, with anonymous sources close to the pitcher claiming that he's open to offers from the Red Sox. Whatever the case may be, he's been crafting a decent season so far, holding onto a 3.23 xFIP and 3.1 fWAR in 151 1/3 innings pitched. Excepting his last outing, when he allowed nine hits, three runs, and a pair of walks to the Giants, Hamels had maintained a streak of five games in which he pitched at least seven innings while allowing one or fewer runs.