Seattle @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2012 ) Seattle 3, Toronto 2

Felix Hernandez attempts to break out of a mini-slump when the Seattle Mariners look to conclude a three-game series sweep of the host Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. Hernandez has lost two consecutive outings after winning nine straight decisions over a stretch of 2 1/2 months. Blue Jays third baseman Edwin Encarnacion is one homer away from 40 and one RBI away from 100. Encarnacion has five homers in his last 11 games.

The Mariners won each of the first two games by one run, dropping Toronto’s record in such games to 11-23. Seattle has won six of eight meetings between the teams this season. Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager is 6-for-10 in the series. He has 18 homers this season with 14 of them coming on the road. The Blue Jays are in fourth place in the American League East, one game ahead of the Boston Red Sox. Encarnacion hit a two-run homer for Toronto’s lone runs on Wednesday.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), Rogers Sports Net (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (13-7, 2.67 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Henderson Alvarez (8-12, 4.95)

Hernandez has allowed nine runs over his last two starts after giving up just 11 in a 10-start stretch. He matched a season-high by giving up 11 hits in just 4 2/3 innings against the Oakland Athletics in his start. Hernandez gave up six runs (five earned). He hasn’t faced Toronto this season and is 3-3 with a 4.37 ERA in eight career starts against the Blue Jays.

Alvarez snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Boston Red Sox in his last outing. He gave up two runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings. Alvarez beat Seattle on April 29 when he gave up one run and six hits in six innings. He is 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA in two career starts against the Mariners.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seattle OF Franklin Gutierrez had a two-run single on Wednesday and is 6-for-17 over his last four games.

2. Toronto’s Adam Lind is 1-for-13 with five strikeouts against Hernandez.

3. Mariners C Miguel Olivo hit his 10th homer in Wednesday’s game, giving Seattle six players in double figures for the first time since 2007.