Look at Weekend Series

The Seattle Mariners are back home now with a successful road trip and an overall record of 6-4. Last year the record for the first team games was 2-8. Certainly a bright side so far this season though they have been missing Nelson Cruz, Ben Gamel and Mike Zunino in the lineup. There was thought that Gamel would be back for Friday night’s game but according to general manager Jerry Dipoto Thursday afternoon that is less likely but may play either Saturday or Sunday or both. Nelson Cruz might be back over the weekend though Friday night he probably won’t be available. Mike Zunino not sure at this point when he will be cleared to play. He might be ready to go when they play the Houston Astros in Safeco Field starting on Monday. If he isn’t playing in that series he should be available when they go on the road trip to Texas to take on the Rangers.

The Oakland A’s record right now is 5-8 and they are two and half games behind the Mariners. On Wednesday they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 16-6 before having a day off on Thursday. The A’s do show that they do have some offensive power. Trading Ryon Healy to the Mariners they have Matt Olson playing first base. He has two home runs and five runs batted in along with a .298. Last year he had twenty-four homers in fifty-nine games so that is a pretty good ratio. I doubt that ratio will stay this season. Khris Davis who is the primary designated hitter also has two home runs with five home runs. Last year he had forty-three home runs and most of them seemed like they were against the Mariners. If the Mariners pitching can keep Olson and Davis balls inside Safeco Field the Mariners have a great chance to win the series.

Jed Lowrie again will be the primary second baseman for the A’s. He currently is hitting .333 with three home runs and eleven runs batted in. Don’t expect to keep those numbers going and against the Mariners we hope that he is slowed down. Marcus Semien will be back at shortstop. He only has one home run but has driven in nine runs already and a batting average of .268. He is solid playing shortstop though. Matt Chapman will be at third base. He has started off hitting four home runs with eleven runs batted in with a whopping .328 batting average. The Mariners will have to stop him as well.

The Oakland A’s outfield consists of Matt Joyce in left field, Jake Smolinski in center and Stephen Piscotty in right field. None of them at this point scare anyone at the plate. Have to say the offense is coming from the infielders and dh. Jonathan Lucroy is the veteran catcher however he doesn’t have any home runs and driven in only one run. So if the Mariners can keep the infielders at bay and the rest where they have been hitting the Mariners have a great chance in sweeping the A’s in Seattle. This will be good since they will be playing four games against the Astros at Safeco Field Monday through Thursday.

Mike Leake will be going after his third win Friday night and be followed by Marco Gonzales who struggled in his last outing and Felix Hernandez who pitched well in his last game. We hope that all three will pitch capable games and allow the bullpen not be overused. Go M’s.