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Blue Jays Aim to Clip Mariners' Wings in Seattle's Nest

As the Toronto Blue Jays prepare to face the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park, fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an electrifying matchup. The Blue Jays, coming off a series of games that showcased both their strengths and areas for improvement, are looking to assert their dominance on the road.


Apr 10, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN;  Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Cavan Biggio (8) throws to first base after forcing out Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) at second base but cannot turn the double play in the seventh inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

In their recent encounters, the Blue Jays have displayed a mix of outcomes but have shown resilience and fighting spirit. Notably, in one of their last three games against the Houston Astros, they managed a thrilling 7-6 victory despite being out-hit. This game highlighted their ability to capitalize on crucial moments, with significant contributions from both hitters and pitchers. However, consistency remains a challenge as they suffered losses in the other two games against the Astros, with scores of 5-3 and 9-2 respectively.


Analyzing these performances reveals several trends for the Blue Jays. Offensively, they've demonstrated power at critical junctures but struggled to maintain consistent pressure across all innings. Their hitting average over these games reflects this inconsistency (.207 in their win versus .172 and .323 in losses), indicating room for improvement in converting hits into runs.


Apr 10, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN;  Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) catches a fly ball hit by Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (not shown) in the fifth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching has been another area of focus. While there were glimpses of excellence from the bullpen—showcasing an ERA of 0.0 over four innings in one game—the starters have had varied success across these matchups. The overall ERA fluctuated significantly (5.0 being a midpoint), suggesting that stabilizing pitching performance could be key to securing more wins.


Defensively, errors have occasionally cost them dearly but also showed moments of brilliance with error-free play contributing positively towards attempts to secure victories.


Apr 10, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN;   Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (16) delivers a pitch against the Seattle Mariners in the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

As we look ahead to the upcoming game at T-Mobile Park—a venue known for its unique dimensions that can influence play styles—it will be interesting to see how both teams adapt. For the Blue Jays, capitalizing on offensive opportunities while tightening up defensively could turn previous setbacks into strategic advantages against the Mariners.


Fans can catch this exciting matchup live on ROOT Sports NW on July 7th at 4:10 PM ET from Seattle's iconic T-Mobile Park.

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