Subscribe now
Seattle Mariners

Mariners Pregame: Paxton goes for eight in a row, lineups and starters against the Angels

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton pitches to Boston Red Sox's Deven Marrero in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 24, 2017, in Seattle. (Ted S. Warren / Associated Press)
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

Game 116: Seattle Mariners (59-56) against Los Angeles Angels (57-58) at 7:05 p.m. at Safeco Field.

The Mariners return home after a 6-3 road trip through Texas, Kansas City and Oakland. Nelson Cruz was particularly good on the trip and powered two home runs to lift the M’s over the A’s 6-3 on Wednesday.

Seattle is 7-3 in its last 10 games and 13 games behind Houston in the A.L. West. The M’s hold a one-game lead over Tampa Bay and Kansas City for the second wildcard spot in the A.L. and trail New York by 2 1/2 games for the first spot. The Mariners are 32-27 at home this season.

The Angels are in third place in the A.L. West, 15 games behind Houston. L.A. is 6-4 in its last 10 games and 24-32 on the road.

Lineups and starters

Courtesy @MarinersPR
Courtesy @MarinersPR

Starters: LHP James Paxton (12-3, 2.70) vs. LHP Tyler Skaggs (1-2, 4.32)

Mariners Notes

  • LHP James Paxton leads MLB in fewest home runs allowed per nine innings with a mark of 0.40 (five homer in 113 1/3 innings). Paxton’s 0.40 HR/9 is currently the lowest single-season mark by a Mariners starting pitcher in club history. He ranks ahead of Doug Fister (2011, 0.43/7 HR, 146 innings), Randy Johnson (1995, 0.50/12 HR, 214 1/3), Dave Fleming (1992, 0.51/13 HR, 228 1/3) and Brian Holman (1989, 0.51/9 HR, 157 2/3).
  • Paxton is trying to set the Mariners franchise mark for wins in consecutive starts. He’s earned the win in seven consecutive starts equaling the club record. Paxton has matched Jamie Moyer (2003) and Scott Bankhead (1989). The last American League pitcher to win eight consecutive starts was Chris Sale, who won his first nine starts of the 2016 season with the White Sox.

Minor League Report

On the Farm: Mariners minor league affiliate report for Aug. 9

Recaps for the Seattle Mariners top affiliates for Wednesday provided by team releases and wire reports. | Read more »

This Day in Mariners History

In 1981, Julio Cruz, attempting to set an American League consecutive stolen bases record, was thrown out at second base in the seventh inning on a disputed call. Cruz had tied Willie Wilson’s record of 32 straight thefts. Ed Ott was the California catcher. The Mariners went on to beat California, 5-4, in the Kingdome.