Lineup: Kyle Seager back, Jarrod Dyson out for Mariners’ opener vs Rays

One Mariners regular is back in the lineup after a short illness, while another will tend to his own ailment by sitting out Friday’s series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at 4:10 on 710 ESPN Seattle and 770 AM KTTH.

Kyle Seager will return to play third base and hit fifth after missing the Mariners’ previous two games with a stomach virus that resulted in him losing 12 pounds. Jarrod Dyson, on the other hand, is not in the starting lineup as he is dealing with a groin tightness.

With Dyson out, Guillermo Heredia will take over in center field while Danny Valencia will play right. Valencia, who has primarily played first base this year for Seattle and came up in the majors as a third baseman, also has a fair amount of experience in corner outfield positions. Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters before the game that Valencia is a candidate to be taken out for a defensive replacement late in the game, which likely means Leonys Martin will eventually take over in right.

On the mound for Seattle will be right-hander Erasmo Ramirez, who will pitch against his former team for the first time since the Mariners re-acquired him from the Rays in a trade last month.

Coverage begins at 3 with the pregame show on 710 ESPN Seattle and 770 AM KTTH. The broadcast will air in its entirety on 770, while 710 will switch to coverage of the Seahawks’ preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at 5.

Here is the Mariners’ full lineup.

Mariners (61-61)

Jean Segura, SS
Yonder Alonso, 1B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Danny Valencia, RF
Ben Gamel, LF
Guillermo Heredia, CF
Mike Zunino, C

Erasmo Ramirez, RHP

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