After OF Austin Jackson (from Detroit) and OF Chris Denofria (San Diego) joined the Mariners in Baltimore Friday, the club optioned outfielders James Jones and Stefen Romero to AAA Tacoma to make room for the newcomers on the 25-man roster. Jackson and Denofria will bat leadoff and sixth, respectively, in Friday night’s opener in a three-game series at Camden Yards.
The 27-year-old Jackson hit .273 (102×374) with 52 runs, 25 doubles, five triples, four home runs and 33 RBIs in 100 games with the Tigers. Against left-handed pitching this season, he is hitting .330 (33×100) with six doubles, one triple, one home run, seven RBIs, a .400 on-base percentage and an .840 OPS.
Over his last 48 games since June 5, Jackson is hitting .314 (58×185) and in July hit .349 (38×109) with 18 runs, 10 doubles, two triples, one home run, 11 RBIs and an .894 OPS in 26 games.
Denorfia, 34, batted .242 with 25 runs, 10 doubles, three triples, one home run and 16 RBIs in 89 games with San Diego. In his career against lefties, he is hitting .301 with 45 doubles, 5 triples, 18 home runs, 83 RBIs and an .809 OPS. He has appeared in all three outfield positions this season.
Jones, 25, hit .258 with 38 runs, eight doubles, four triples, eight RBIs with 20 stolen bases in 21 attempts in 79 games over two stints with the Mariners this season. His 20 stolen bases rank seventh in the American League and second since May 5.
Romero, 25, hit .200 in his latest nine-game stint with Seattle, his second of the season. He has appeared in 60 games, hitting .196 with 19 runs, six doubles, two triples, three home runs and 11 RBIs.
At 56-52, the Mariners will start LHP Roenis Elias (8-8, 4.31). He is opposed by LHP Wei-Yin Chen (11-3, 2.92), who defeated Seattle 4-0 at Safeco Field July 24. The Mariners dropped three of four to the Orioles in that series.
The forecast called for a 70 percent chance of rain.
