The Seattle Mariners return to T-Mobile Park on Thursday, September 3 to host the Athletics in a 6:40 PM PT first pitch. Kade Anderson gets the ball for Seattle opposite Oakland's Jack Perkins in what shapes up as a pitching matchup between two arms the baseball world is still sizing up. With the regular season winding toward its final month, every game in the standings carries weight, and the Mariners will want to take care of business at home against an Athletics club that is still building toward the future.

Probable Starters: Kade Anderson vs. Jack Perkins

Anderson gets the start for the Mariners. The young lefty is part of Seattle's effort to develop rotation depth, and home starts at T-Mobile Park give him a favorable setting with one of the better defensive lineups in the American League backing him up. Perkins draws the assignment for the Athletics. Neither pitcher has widely published ERA or win-loss figures available for this preview, so both men carry some degree of mystery heading into the matchup — which makes watching the first couple of innings especially important for reading how each arm has it tonight.

Seattle Mariners Lineup

• 1. Randy Arozarena, LF
• 2. Dominic Canzone, DH
• 3. Julio Rodríguez, CF
• 4. Cal Raleigh, C
• 5. Josh Naylor, 1B
• 6. Cole Young, 2B
• 7. Lazaro Montes, RF
• 8. J.P. Crawford, SS
• 9. Brock Rodden, 3B

Athletics Lineup

• 1. Henry Bolte, CF
• 2. Zack Gelof, LF
• 3. Lawrence Butler, RF
• 4. Jonah Heim, DH
• 5. Jeff McNeil, 1B
• 6. Michael Stefanic, 2B
• 7. Brian Serven, C
• 8. Alika Williams, SS
• 9. Max Muncy, 3B

Keys to Watch

Julio Rodríguez Hitting Third

J-Rod slotting into the three-hole puts him in position to drive in whatever Arozarena and Canzone can set up at the top. Rodríguez is the kind of middle-of-the-order presence who can change the complexion of a game against a pitcher he hasn't faced much. How Perkins attacks him early will tell you a lot about the Athletics' game plan tonight.

Cal Raleigh in the Heart of the Order

Raleigh batting cleanup at catcher is a weapon not many teams carry. His combination of pop and durability behind the plate gives Seattle an edge on both sides of the ball. If Anderson is working efficiently, Raleigh's defensive framing and game-calling become just as valuable as what he does at the plate.

Lawrence Butler for Oakland

Butler hitting third in the Athletics order is the name Mariners fans need to keep an eye on. He is the kind of bat who can do damage in a hitter-friendly stretch of late-season games when pitchers are managing workloads carefully. Anderson will need to be precise when Butler steps in.

Young Talent on Both Sides

Cole Young at second base and Lazaro Montes in right field give Seattle two developing pieces who are getting meaningful at-bats during this stretch of the season. Montes in particular is worth watching — how he handles the right field assignments and produces in the six-seven stretch of the order is a real-time scouting report on Seattle's future.

Prediction

This is a game the Mariners should win at home. The lineup has enough firepower from top to bottom, and pitching at T-Mobile Park in front of a home crowd is an advantage Anderson should be able to use. Give Seattle the edge in a 4-2 final. Catch the game on NBCSCA, Mariners.TV, or on Seattle Sports 710 AM.