Lineups: Mariners’ James Paxton looks to bounce back in opener vs Texas
Jun 16, 2017, 1:57 PM | Updated: 3:20 pm
James Paxton pitched just four innings in his last start, a loss to Toronto last Sunday. (AP)
(AP)
James Paxton will look to shake off his shortest outing of the season as he returns to the mound for the Mariners in Friday’s 5:05 series opener in Texas against the Rangers on 710 ESPN Seattle.
Paxton is 5-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.13 WHIP this season, but he went just four innings last Sunday against the Blue Jays, a 4-0 Seattle loss. The 28-year-old lefty has been the Mariners’ best starter when healthy this season, but he hasn’t made it through the sixth inning since April 26, which was the start before he suffered a forearm strain that put him on the disabled list until June 6.
Stecker: Returns coming to Mariners rotation, and they need them
The Mariners made an unsurprising move before the game, optioning Chase De Jong to Triple-A Tacoma and recalling Zac Curtis from Double-A Arkansas. De Jong pitched four scoreless innings of relief Thursday, allowing just one hit and two walks, but the Mariners have shown this season that they prefer to keep a fresh arm in the long relief role at all times. The left-handed Curtis has appeared in two games this season with the Mariners, allowing no hits, no walks and no runs while striking out one in 1 2/3 innings pitched.
Tyson Ross, another promising pitcher who has spent a long period on the DL this year, will make his Rangers debut opposite Paxton.
Coverage begins at 4 with the pregame show on 710 ESPN Seattle. Here are the full lineups.
Mariners (33-35)
Ben Gamel, LF
Mitch Haniger, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Danny Valencia, 1B
Jarrod Dyson, CF
Mike Zunino, C
Taylor Motter, SS
James Paxton, LHP
Rangers (32-33)
Delino DeShields, LF
Shin-Soo Choo, RF
Elvis Andrus, SS
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Carlos Gomez, CF
Rougned Odor, 2B
Jonathan Lucroy, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Robinson Chirinos, C
Tyson Ross, RHP
