Seattle @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2011 ) Seattle 6, Toronto 11

THE STORY: The Seattle Mariners can equal their longest streak of futility in nearly three years Thursday, but they'd probably rather not. The Mariners carry an 11-game losing skid into the finale of a three-game series against the host Toronto Blue Jays. Seattle sends snakebitten righthander Doug Fister into a matinee matchup against Jays lefty Ricky Romero.

TV: 12:37 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), Rogers Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Doug Fister (3-11, 3.18 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Ricky Romero (7-9, 3.18).

No pitcher in the majors has a more valid complaint about a lack of run support than Fister. The towering 27-year-old has gone 0-6 in his last eight starts despite posting a 3.12 ERA in that span. Seattle has scored 11 runs in those games - five coming in one outing, a 6-5 loss to the Washington Nationals. He is 0-2 lifetime against Toronto with a 4.30 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. Romero has the same sparkling ERA as Fister and also has a losing record, but has only himself to blame for his recent struggles. The 26-year-old has been tagged for 14 runs over his last 15 2/3 innings since going the distance on a four-hitter against St. Louis. Romero lost his only career game against the Mariners despite limiting them to three runs over eight innings.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (43-54): With most of the present-day Seattle roster struggling to avoid setting several records for offensive ineptitude, the future was on display in Wednesday's 11-6 loss. Rookie shortstop Dustin Ackley was one of the lone offensive standouts for the Mariners, blasting his fourth home run of the season in the ninth inning. Ackley is hitting a team-best .284, and has 14 RBIs in only 95 at-bats. For a team on the verge of equaling its longest losing streak since September 2008, the 23-year-old Ackley is providing plenty of reason for optimism in Seattle.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (49-49): The Blue Jays have their own 23-year-old star in the making, and he also stood out Wednesday night. Travis Snider continued his red-hot hitting, belting a three-run homer and finishing with five RBIs. The third-year outfielder is hitting .357 with two homers and 17 RBIs in 13 games since being recalled from the minors to work on his swing mechanics. His emergence gives Toronto a dangerous middle of the lineup, with Jose Bautista leading the majors in homers and Adam Lind at 18 for the season following his solo shot Wednesday.

FINAL PITCH: With temperatures expected to approach 100 degrees, Blue Jays officials have decided to close the roof Thursday.