6/21: Open game thread

Hot sauce and hangnails, the Mariners are playing another baseball game today! This afternoon's contest features an exciting pitching matchup, with Justin Verlander facing off against James Paxton, who apparently stole Verlander's fastball from three years ago, but only acquired it a month ago. I dunno, time travel is weird.

The Mariners are starting their RHP lineup today, but with Nelson Cruz in RF. Scott Servais indicated that's an attempt to get Cruz to stop hitting into double plays every single time he comes up, and so we have reached spaghetti flinging time with this team. The Mariners are 8-16 in their past 24 games, the biz is being threatened with foreclosure, Taijuan Walker has tendinitis, and everything just kind of feels bad.

BUT, the team is STILL in playoff contention, features one of the best offenses in the American League, and is one win away from potentially going on a run of wins, and righting their season. All they have to do is win.

So, win, ya goobers.

Game info

• Mariners @ Tigers, 4:10 PM PDT, Comerica Park
• TV: ROOT, Radio: 710 ESPN, Online: MLBTV