8/31: Open game thread

It's been a long weekend. Lloyd McClendon is back today as the Mariners bring their homestand (and, hopefully, their four-game losing streak) to a close against the Nationals before hitting the road tomorrow in Oakland.

Hisashi Iwakuma is looking to bounce back from an ugly start against the Red Sox last week, when he gave up six hits, five runs, and a walk in just 2 1/3 innings. It was the shortest outing he had pitched since coming out of the bullpen in 2012. Prior to his meltdown, the right-hander had accumulated three wins in four starts this month, keeping opponents to one or fewer runs per game and reaching a season-high 11 strikeouts against the Phillies.

The Nationals have found a viable starter in 27-year-old Tanner Roark this season, who is courting 15th place among National League starters with 120 strikeouts, a 3.82 xFIP, and 2.5 fWAR in 166 2/3 innings. It's the best year of the right-hander's career so far, considering the 4.00+ ERAs he was dragging around in the minors before his major-league debut last year. This month, he's 1-2 in five starts with Washington, allowing an average of two runs and three strikeouts per game. His best performance came against the Diamondbacks a couple of weeks ago, when he gave up five hits and struck out four batters in a seven-inning shutout.

Game info

• Mariners vs. Nationals, 1:10 p.m. PST
• Today's game will be televised on ROOT Sports, broadcast on 710 ESPN, and available to out-of-market fans at MLB TV here.
• Ballpark giveaway: Robinson Cano Lunch Cooler Bags (available to all fans under the age of 14)
• Second wild card status: The Tigers split yesterday's doubleheader, putting them 1.5 games ahead of the Mariners for the second wild card. They currently trail the White Sox 5-0 through the second inning.