BRENT STECKER

Robinson Cano scratched as Mariners take a crack at getting over .500 in opener vs Blue Jays

May 11, 2017, 1:09 PM | Updated: 2:33 pm

A quad injury that first bothered Robinson Cano on Tuesday will keep him out of Thursday's lineup. ...

A quad injury that first bothered Robinson Cano on Tuesday will keep him out of Thursday's lineup. (AP)

(AP)

The Mariners will have Taylor Motter in left field and Nelson Cruz back in the lineup as they return to American League play to take on the Toronto Blue Jays at 4:07 on 710 ESPN Seattle in the first of a four-game series. They will be without Robinson Cano, however, who was scratched due to a sore quadriceps.

Cano was initially scheduled to play his usual second base and hit third, but the quad injury that resulted in him being pulled from Tuesday’s win in Philadelphia has apparently persisted enough for manager Scott Servais to sit him in favor of Mike Freeman. Cano played through the injury Wednesday and even went 4 for 5 with a homer as Seattle completed a two-game sweep of the Phillies.

M’s make another bullpen shuffle | Dipoto on injured pitchers | Dipoto on Zunino

Utility man Motter’s playing time has been spotty in recent weeks after the return of shortstop Jean Segura from the disabled list and with corner outfielders Guillermo Heredia and Ben Gamel playing well. Motter also has just three hits in his 20 at-bats.

Cruz didn’t start but did make a pair of pinch-hitting appearances in Seattle’s recent two-game sweep of the Phillies. He has also been dealing with some hamstring soreness.

On the mound for the Mariners will be Chase De Jong coming off a stellar last outing in which he held the Texas Rangers to just one run in six innings. Toronto will counter with Marco Estrada.

The 17-17 M’s can get over .500 for the first time this season with a win in the opener over the Jays.

Coverage begins on 710 ESPN Seattle with the pregame show at 3.

Mariners (17-17)

Jean Segura, SS
Ben Gamel, RF
Nelson Cruz, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Danny Valencia, 1B
Taylor Motter, LF
Mike Freeman, 2B
Tuffy Gosewisch, C
Jarrod Dyson, CF

Chase De Jong, RHP

Blue Jays (13-21)

Kevin Pillar, CF
Ezequiel Carrera, RF
Jose Bautista, DH
Justin Smoak, 1B
Steve Pearce, LF
Ryan Goins, SS
Devon Travis, 2B
Chris Coghlan, 3B
Luke Maile, C

Marco Estrada, RHP

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