Seattle @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 19, 2011 ) Seattle 5, Toronto 6

THE STORY: Brandon Morrow makes his first career start against the team that made him a top 5 pick in the 2006 draft - and the timing couldn't be better. Morrow and the Toronto Blue Jays host the struggling Seattle Mariners on Wednesday in the second of a three-game series. The Mariners, who have lost 10 straight games, counter with hard-luck lefthander Jason Vargas.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Jason Vargas (6-7, 3.68 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Brandon Morrow (6-4, 4.37).

Like the other members of Seattle's starting rotation, Vargas' win-loss record is skewed by a chronic lack of run support. The 28-year-old has surrendered only 11 earned runs over his last four outings, but has a 1-3 record to show for it. Vargas has made two career starts against Toronto, recording a 2.70 ERA over 13 1/3 innings. Morrow was dealt to the Blue Jays by the Mariners prior to the 2010 season for reliever Brandon League. Morrow has since emerged as one of the league's top strikeout threats, while League is one of the best closers in the American League. Morrow is 4-0 in his last six starts, and allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings last time out as the Jays walloped the Yankees 7-1.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (43-53): With Seattle on pace to shatter several records for offensive ineptitude, the most startling slump of all belongs to outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. The gifted veteran came into the season with a career average near .330, but is hitting nearly 70 points below that this season. The 37-year-old may finally be showing his age as his bat speed appears to be slowing. So, too, are his power numbers. Though Suzuki isn't known as a slugger, his one home run in 396 at-bats puts him on pace for a career low. He went 1-for-7 in Tuesday's 6-5, 14-inning loss and is batting a paltry .177 (11-for-62) in July.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (48-49): Toronto can only imagine how much more effective Rajai Davis would be if he could find a way to get on base more often. The speedy outfielder was a one-man buzzsaw Tuesday, stealing three bases - including a pair in the pivotal 14th inning that put him in position to score the winning run. Davis, who joined Toronto in the off-season, leads the team with 28 stolen bases and has provided an element the Jays have lacked in recent years. But with his batting average sitting at an underwhelming .235, he'll be hard-pressed to challenge the franchise record of 60 swipes set by Dave Collins in 1984.

FINAL PITCH: Prior to this season, Suzuki had never hit below .233 in any month since arriving in the majors in 2001. He has already done it once this season - batting .210 in May - and is on pace to fare even worse in July.