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6/10/17: Open Game Thread

Marcus Stroman vs. Ariel Miranda

the classic levitating ball trick
the classic levitating ball trick
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Wins against the Blue Jays just feel more satisfying, don't they? The Mariners won a close one last night and will look to win the series today behind lefty Ariel Miranda. Miranda has a ton of momentum coming into tonight's game, coming off a brilliant start where he pitched a complete game mostly-shut-out against the Rays. His opponent tonight, Marcus Stroman, already has two complete games under his belt this season, but both of those came in April--in May and June, he hasn't made it past the sixth, although he's won each of his last six starts and will be going for the seventh tonight. Four of those six wins, however, came against the following teams: a struggling Mariners team, Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Cincinnati. Also, wow the Blue Jays have had a pretty nice schedule over the past month.

Today's Lineups

TORONTO BLUE JAYS SEATTLE MARINERS
Kevin Pillar - CF Ben Gamel - RF
Josh Donaldson - 3B Guillermo Heredia - LF
Jose Bautista - RF Robinson Cano - 2B
Kendrys Morales - DH Nelson Cruz - DH
Justin Smoak - 1B Kyle Seager - 3B
Troy Tulowitzki - SS Taylor Motter - 1B
Russell Martin - C Jarrod Dyson - CF
Darwin Barney - 2B Carlos Ruiz - C
Ezequiel Carrera - LF Tyler Smith - SS
Marcus Stroman - RHP Ariel Miranda - LHP
The Mariners are running out their lefty-heavy lineup against the righty Stroman, while the Blue Jays are running out...basically the same lineup they usually run out, except with righty Darwin Barney getting the start over the lefty Ryan Goins. The last time Miranda faced the Blue Jays, back on May 14, he pitched well, limiting the Blue Jays to three hits and one run while striking out eight. However, he only lasted five innings thanks to being fairly ineffective with his pitches (100 over five plus a five-pitch walk to Bautista in the sixth), and the Mariners wound up losing thanks to their bullpen giving up two runs/Cano-less lineup not being able to score any runs. The challenge for Miranda tonight will be executing his pitches with efficiency, staying away from the three free passes he gave up in just five innings last time (although two of those were to Bautista, and honestly, I'm about done watching Jose Bautista hit home runs against the Mariners). Tonight's game will be an interesting benchmark for Miranda's development as a pitcher.
Game time: 7:10 PST; game is on ROOTNW and 710 ESPN as well as mlb.tv.