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The 2017 Mariners have mastered the knack of ending woeful road series' with a victory to make the opening game of the following set more palatable. After getting bullied by the Nationals back-to-back nights following an embarrassing set against the White Sox, the M's snagged a win behind Nelson Cruz's offense and Ariel Miranda's bold strategy of not giving up 4-8 runs in the first two innings. It's hard to describe the Mariners are anything approaching lucky, but facing the Red Sox in a three game set while avoiding Chris Sale and David Price is extremely fortunate. Tonight Yovani Gallardo will face Eduardo Rodriguez. Two years ago this would have been an even matchup. Last year neither were brilliant. This year Rodriguez has looked like a 24 year-old coming into his own, while Gallardo has looked physically healthier but struggled with consistency.
The M's offense looks like one that would excel against lefties, and Nelson Cruz and Danny Valencia certainly have. Overall, however, the team has put up a 73 wRC+ against LHPs this season, 27th in MLB. Kyle Seager and Robinson Canó in particular have struggled. Both are lefties, so it's understandable, but they are well below their career averages. Mitch Haniger is looking closer to return, as are a few other players, which bodes well for the team, but they will have to make do tonight and this series nonetheless.
Felix to throw a bullpen tomorrow, Kuma in the next couple of days. Haniger to hit in cages today.
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) May 26, 2017
Additionally, the Mariners had some depth pieces swooped from them today.
.@Dodgers claim INF Mike Freeman, RHP Chris Heston off waivers from @Mariners, option both to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
— MLBRosterMoves (@MLBRosterMoves) May 26, 2017
Mike Freeman is a good lad and a strong AAA hitter with a great LinkedIn and will turn 30 in August. Chris Heston is a somewhat tougher loss considering the abysmal health of the rotation, but he had looked as challenged with his control as he has the past couple years and did not regain the velocity needed to compensate. With Paxton, Félix, Kuma, and Smyly at various points on the horizon and preseason #6 spot competitor Rob Whalen back (and starting tomorrow!), it is irksome, but less so than it would have been a week ago.
Are any of y'all playing PLAYERUNKNOWN's Battlegrounds? My friends from college have just gotten into it and have been pestering me about it, but I am summarily atrocious at shooters and really any non-sports or strategy games that involve multiplayer. If you're unfamiliar, the crux of the game is 100 players [or 50 duos, or 25 teams of four) are airdropped into a huge play area, and must scavenge to find weapons, armor, medical supplies, and vehicles (Hunger Games but with guns, essentially). Soon afterwards, a circle appears on your minimap, however, and that circle will continue to close as the game goes on. If you find yourself outside of that circle, you will rapidly lose/die. The goal is to be the last one alive. It seems like a compelling concept and games are usually only 5-20 minutes. Do any of you have impressions/interest/strong feelings on this somewhat overnight phenomenon?