Seattle @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 26, 2010 ) Seattle 5, Milwaukee 4
At this point in an otherwise lost season, the Seattle Mariners have begun to look for small things that will help them in the future - like their starting pitching.
The Mariners hope to ride their starter to another win when Jason Vargas takes the mound in today’s finale of a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
When Seattle was mapping out its team in the offseason, pitching and defense were the two things at the top of the list that would help them get back to the playoffs. An offense including Milton Bradley, Jose Lopez, Chone Figgins and Ichiro Suzuki would be good enough, the club figured, to support the staff.
That plan never came together, with the offense struggling badly and keeping the club mired in last place in the American League West despite a rotation that leads the AL with a 3.56 starters’ ERA. Vargas (6-2) has been a big part of that rotation, pitching to a 2.66 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.
The left-hander has not suffered a loss since May 4 and is dominating interleague play, going 2-0 in three starts against National League teams while allowing three runs and 16 hits in 20 2/3 total innings. His last start was the best of the three, as Vargas held the Chicago Cubs to four hits in seven scoreless innings en route to his sixth win of the season.
Vargas, 27, is spending his season auditioning for a spot as part of the Mariners future and, so far, he has earned it.
Whether most of his teammates are around to enjoy the rest of his career remains to be seen. Seattle now appears to be throwing open its doors for the trading deadline. Fellow left-hander Cliff Lee and infielder Jose Lopez have been the biggest names on the market, but the Mariners will be willing to listen to offers on most of their players.
The Brewers will also be open for business at the deadline, though the biggest names on the teams - Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Yovani Gallardo - will probably be staying put as the club attempts to do a little work around the edges in order to ride their core back to the playoffs in 2011.
Seattle snapped Milwaukee’s five-game winning streak on Saturday afternoon behind a two-run homer from Lopez that gave the Mariners a 5-4 lead. Bradley added a solo homer and Franklin Gutierrez also drove in a run in the win.
The Brewers will send left-hander Chris Narveson to the mound in the finale. The 28-year-old converted reliever is 2-1 over his last three starts against AL opponents, including a win over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Narveson allowed three runs and five hits in five innings to push his record to 6-4.