| 8/5 | 7:10 pm | Safeco Field | R.A. Dickey vs. Hisashi Iwakuma |
| 8/6 | 7:10 pm | Safeco Field | Josh Johnson vs. Felix Hernandez |
| 8/7 | 12:40 pm | Safeco Field | TBA vs. Aaron Harang |
Canadian invasion. I've mentioned this before, but if you've never been down to Safeco for a series against Toronto, it's a sight to be seen. Last year consisted of many drunk and hilarious Canadians, and tonight I'll be heading down once again to witness the mayhem. It's been a busy day at the site, so the series preview this time around is slightly abbreviated from what it would usually be.
On the back of the Biogenesis suspensions, baseball games still have to be played today. The Mariners get Robert Allen Dickey, who will be making a return of sorts to Safeco Field, where he was not particularly good as a member of the Seattle Mariners. Last year's Cy Young fairy tale is over, and Dickey has come back to earth. He's not striking batters out at a high anymore, he's walking more batters, and giving up a ton more homers. I could sit here and try to explain why this is happening, but it's a knuckleball. Nobody really knows what the hell is going on there, including the pitchers who throw it. Dickey has fought some nagging injuries this season, so perhaps that's played a factor.
Dickey's throwing everything a couple ticks slower this season, fastball and knuckle alike. While his knuckleball had a 25.2 wKN last year, it's down to -4.3 this season while he's throwing it more than ever. For whatever reason, it just isn't happening for him. Still, he's shown glimpses of his good form, and every once in a while, he'll be invincible. His late July start against Tampa Bay was mesmerizing, and he can still drop jaws.
The Mariners come back from managing to salvage a 2-4 road trip, which is about what you could ask for considering the opposition and the disaster in Boston I'm not going to talk about.
Tonight belongs to Hisashi Iwakuma, who has settled back in from his stretch of 4+ ER given up before the break, and in his last four starts carries a 1.75 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 25.2 innings. Iwakuma is still really, really good. Felix follows him up tomorrow, and then Harangutan will make Wednesday's day game start.
Danny Farquhar appears to be the new closer, much to my glee. If you missed that article about Farquhar last week, take another look. His peripherals are absolutely bonkers, and he has looked untouchable in recent appearances.
See you at Safeco tonight.