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For those of you still giddy from last night’s comeback win as a result of which the Seattle Mariners ARE NOW TIED FOR THE SECOND WILD CARD SPOT (sorry, I really shouldn’t say that too loudly) are now tied for the second Wild Card spot, a little afternoon baseball to cap off a productive road trip should be just what the doctor ordered.
Hoping to help complete the sweep is M’s starter Yovani Gallardo. Since returning to the rotation July 23rd, however, he has not been especially sharp; despite a fine outing against the Mets, he’s run a FIP of 6.97 across those three appearances.
A little run support for the Yo might be helpful today.
Jharel Cotton gets the start for the A’s, and though the rookie has promising stuff, struggles with command (4.1 BB/9) and the long ball (12.8 HR/FB) have contributed to his 5.17 FIP across 16 outings. He’s also shown an inability to get deep into games, having made it past 5 innings in only 6 of those 16 starts. A’s manager Bob Melvin used all seven of his relievers in last night’s losing effort, so the already beleaguered A’s pitching staff could have its hands full this afternoon.
Meanwhile, with the righty Cotton on the mound for Oakland, Yonder Alonso once again gets the start at first base against his former team, batting second. Though his debut as a Mariner left something to be desired, Alonso will try to put his team-best wRC+ of 152 against right-handed pitching to good use this afternoon.
With the four-game series against the Angels for Edgar Weekend imminent, it would sure be nice to return home with a sweep in tow—weird, stunted little two-game series notwithstanding.
Go M’s.