9/2: Open game thread

Well here go the Mariners, recklessly careening through the latter stages of the season's penultimate road trip. Today is the first game since the initial batch of roster expansion have had a chance to get situated and sure enough Lloyd is starting Stefen Romero in right field and Shawn O'Malley.......in.....center?

Ok, sure. I mean, the whole idea of removing Austin Jackson searing competence from the roster was to see if Brad Miller or Ketel Marte could provide an approximation of that competence for pennies on the dollar but I suppose nope don't get it not even a little bit. Brad Miller of course appears to have major issues with left-handed pitchers (25 wRC+) and Scott Kazmir has been excellent the majority of the season. But this game, and this season long ago stopped being about squeezing out every ounce of tactical advantage (not that they did that particularly well when it was time to do so) and is now about the future. Why can't Brad Miller just be allowed to play for a few weeks without sitting down? I freely admit that my perspective is limited, and that factors are in play with these things I can't know. But, I don't get it.

Taijuan Walker on the mound, looking to bounce back from a case of "ow my leg" in his last start. Walker starts, even more so than all starts, are dwindling down these days. They should be savored, I think. Few things about the 2015 Mariners have given me more hope for the 2016 Mariners than Taijuan Walker.

Say a prayer/think healing thoughts for the poor Houston train.

Win, ya goobers.

Game info

• Mariners @ Astros, 5:10 PM PST, Minute Maid Park
• TV: ROOT, Radio: 710 ESPN, Online: MLBTV