8/21/17: Open Game Thread

Now that the solar eclipse has wound down, it’s time to get ready for some baseball! The Mariners’ long rest-of-August road trip continues with a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. Here are your lineups:

As you can see, the most glaring omission is Nelson Cruz. With NL rules in place, Scott Servais is choosing to rest Nellie rather than risk his legs in the outfield. This seems to make sense, but not everybody is happy about it. Witness:

(And yet, the Braves are okay with Matt Kemp playing in the outfield...But I digress.)

Andrew Albers is making his second start for the M’s and his 14th of his career — this one will be against his most recent team before flying west to Seattle.

Also, for those of you who watched the M’s play the alt-Mariners this weekend in Tampa, you’ll notice there are zero former Seattle players in Atlanta’s lineup tonight. In fact, the only former M on the Braves’ roster is knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who will start Wednesday’s game.

Finally, your daily Wild Card update: as of press time, the Mariners sit just 1.5 games back of the second Wild Card spot, and one figures that their three-game series against the Yankees this weekend could perhaps even put the first spot into play.

Game time: 4:35pm PT

TV: ROOT Sports Northwest

Radio: 710 ESPN

MLB.tv where available - free game of the day!

And, before we get to the action, since I’ve been puppy-sitting for the weekend, here’s a picture of the cutest Italian greyhound you ever did see. Meet Pascal!