Seattle Mariners' Hisashi Iwakuma delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Seattle, Washington, July 25, 2012.ROBERT SORBO/Reuters
The Toronto Blue Jays begin a three-game series in Seattle against the Mariners on Monday.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
July 30: Toronto LHP Ricky Romero (8-7, 5.75 earned-run average) vs. Seattle RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (1-2, 4.56)
July 31: Toronto LHP Aaron Laffey (2-1, 3.22) vs. Seattle LHP Jason Vargas (11-7, 3.76)
Aug. 1: Toronto RHP Carlos Villanueva (6-0, 2.92) vs. Seattle RHP Black Beavan (6-6, 5.20)
NEED TO KNOW
All eyes will be on Ricky Romero on Monday, making his first appearance since last Wednesday in Toronto when he was shaken for eight earned runs over just 1 1/3 innings, the shortest outing of his major-league career. There have been plenty of suggestions since then about what to do with the struggling lefty, who has lost six in a row, ranging from skipping a start to a demotion to the minors. "I just continue to work hard, not worry about anything that's said about me," Romero said on Sunday.