
Mariners lefty J.A. Happ, pitching against Cleveland May 31, will face the Jays for the first time since being sent to Seattle for outfielder Michael Saunders last off-season. Happ compiled a record of 19-20 with a 4.39 earned run average in three seasons with Toronto.
The Mariners did the Jays no favours by losing two out of three in the Bronx right after the All-Star break but they emerged with a split of a four-game set in Detroit. The M's find themselves just a half-game ahead of Oakland for last place in the American League West with a 44-52 record that leaves them 10-1/2 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels. The Jays are 49-48 to put them in second place after a series victory in Oakland but are 5-1/2 games behind the New York Yankees for first in the AL East.
Series Schedule & Probable Starters
Friday at 10:10 pm ET - Marco Estrada (7-5, 3.22) vs. Felix Hernandez (11-5, 2.77)
Saturday at 4:10 pm ET - Drew Hutchison (9-2, 5.19) vs. J.A. Happ (4-5, 4.12)
Sunday at 4:10 pm ET - Mark Buehrle (11-5, 3.23) vs. Taijuan Walker (7-7, 5.06)
The original pitching duel between Hutchison and King Felix in the series opener would have been a rematch of last year's curtain raiser in Seattle which was incredibly godawful and ended Strasburg Canada's career as a Blue Jay. This was the only good thing that happened in the game last year.