Lineups: Mariners vs. Astros, Game 1

Lineups for Game 1 of the Mariners’ three-game series against the Astros at Safeco Field, which begins at 7:10 on 710 ESPN Seattle:

Mariners

Austin Jackson, CF
Dustin Ackley, LF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, RF
Kyle Seager, 3B
Seth Smith, DH
Mike Zunino, C
Logan Morrison, 1B
Brad Miller, SS

Hisashi Iwakuma, RHP

Astros

Jose Altuve, 2B
Luis Valbuena, 3B
George Springer, RF
Evan Gattis, DH
Jed Lowrie, SS
Jason Castro, C
Marwin Gonzalez, 1B
Colby Rasmus, LF
Jake Marisnick, CF

Asher Wojciechowski, RHP

Shannon’s notes

Manager Lloyd McClendon is going with a very lefty lineup against rookie Wojciechowski. Of note, Dustin Ackley is hitting second and Seth Smith sixth. The move, it turns out, is more about Smith than Ackley.

“I’m just playing with it trying to see what works better,” said McClendon. “I kind of like (Smith) there. He came up the other day when he hit in the six-spot with the bases loaded and we got a sacrifice fly. I just like the experience there. Maybe he fits better there, I’m not sure that’s what we are going to do in the long term but for the moment I like it.”

We are not quite seeing the set lineup I think a lot of us thought we would see this season but I think that is a good thing. McClendon is looking to maximize the lineup. With nothing but righty starters coming up for the rest of the homestand he should have a decent chance of coming up with some answers.

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