Toronto @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 2, 2018 ) Toronto 7, Seattle 3

The Seattle Mariners have dropped to third place in the American League West due to their prolonged slump. Seattle has lost 14 of 21 contests and looks to break out of the funk when it hosts the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series.

The Mariners were 56-32 on July 5 before the slide began and have been passed by Oakland for second place in the division race. "You have to find a way, you’ve got to keep competing and it's got to turn," Mariners manager Scott Servais said of the slump during his postgame press conference following Thursday's 7-3 setback. "It's not just going to happen. We have to make it happen." Kendrys Morales hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning to help the Blue Jays win for just the third time in 10 games. Toronto's Teoscar Hernandez, who was 2-for-25 over his previous seven contests, broke out on Thursday with his second four-hit performance of the season that included three doubles.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Ryan Borucki (0-2, 2.83 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (12-5, 3.37)

Borucki is making his seventh start of the season after allowing fewer than three runs in five of his first six outings. The 24-year-old still is seeking his first major-league victory after giving up two runs and six hits over six innings in a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox in his last turn. Borucki hasn't served up a homer in 35 innings and has registered 28 strikeouts against 11 walks.

Gonzales has won five consecutive starts, posting a 1.57 ERA over 34 1/3 innings during that stretch. The 26-year-old defeated the Los Angeles Angels in his last turn as he gave up two runs and seven hits over six frames. Gonzales, who never has faced Toronto, is 5-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 10 home starts this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners 2B Dee Gordon (ankle) departed in the ninth inning of the series opener and will be re-evaluated on Friday.

2. Toronto INF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (ankle), who currently is on the 10-day disabled list, was named American League Rookie of the Month for July after batting .423 with a franchise-record 11 straight multi-hit efforts in 71 at-bats.

3. Seattle reinstated 3B Kyle Seager from the paternity list, optioned INF Zach Vincej to Triple-A Tacoma and sent INF Gordon Beckham outright to the same affiliate after he cleared waivers.

PREDICTION: Mariners 6, Blue Jays 3