Blue Jays Series Preview: Jays Need to Harpoon the Mariners

May 16, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher

(34) makes a face after walking the bases loaded in the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Felix Hernandez (6-1, 2.30 ERA) vs Marco Estrada (1-2, 3.55 ERA)

Hernandez is without a doubt one of the best pitchers in the majors. We are talking Hall of Famer good…except against the Blue Jays. For whatever reason some pitchers just don’t fare well against certain teams and the Blue Jays are that team for Hernandez (5-6, 4.80 ERA). Dalton Pompey hit his first big league homer off of King Felix. He doesn’t even strikeout a batter per inning against Toronto (84 innings, 76 strikeouts). He had a wonky ankle his last start but is said to be ready and healthy for the game. It should be interesting.

And to make it even more interesting he is facing the underwhelming Marco Estrada. He isn’t doing horribly this year but with the Rogers Centre being one of those homer happy parks this may not bode well against a team with Nelson Cruz (16 HR, .351 BA) that is 2nd in the AL in homers. Estrada is well known for giving up the long ball so it may be just the type of starter the Mariners need to really kick start a run at the AL West leading Houston Astros.