9/29: Open game thread

Well here we go, everyone. The Mariners are beginning their last series of the regular season. Want to talk about the Baltimore/Toronto game? There's a thread for that. Want to gain a better understanding of all the crazy tiebreaker scenarios potentially in play? We've got you covered. Want to read amazing writing on the Mariners' rookie dress up day? I mean, why wouldn't you?

It's an anxious feeling, needing a sweep. It's a strange one to sort of expect one. The Mariners hold a distinct pitching advantage in every game of the series against Oakland, with the exception of tonight. Ariel Miranda has managed to provide this team with desperately needed back-end rotation stability. However, he should never be thought of as more than simply that, a number 5/swing man arm on a good team. If Miranda doesn't have it tonight, I hope and expect that Scott Servais will go quickly to his bullpen, be it Vidal Nuno, or Hisashi Iwakuma on his scheduled throw day. We are, after all, nearly out of tomorrows.

The usual lineup tonight, Marte and Lind included. I don't know why at this point I keep expecting them to change. This is clearly the lineup the team has decided to ride or die with, and there's little point in continuing to lament that fact. All we can hope is that, for four days, the Mariners can play good baseball. Then we'll see.

The end starts tonight.

goms

gobiz

Game info

• Athletics @ Mariners, 7:10 PM, Safeco Field
• TV: ROOT, Radio: 710 ESPN, Online: MLB.TV