Milone tries to snap his run of bad luck against Mariners

    With the trade deadline past, the focus can return to the field tonight, where the Twins will try to hold on to their two-game lead for the final wild-card spot. Six teams are within four games of them, so it’s critical for the Twins not to go into a slump.

    They’ll send Tommy Milone to the mound tonight against Seattle, a team that has given him trouble in the past. Milone is 3-4 with a 3.48 ERA in nine career starts against the Mariners, and he has lost his last three meetings with them.

    “Tommy’s been consistent for the most part, but you’re facing a team that does better against left-handed hitting,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “A couple of guys have nicked him up for long balls, but those are the exception.” Seattle catcher Mike Zunino has two homers against Milone.

    Molitor has wisely left Aaron Hicks in the second spot in the lineup, where the third-year outfield has been transformative over the past few games. Hicks is 8-for-14 (.571) in the second spot, and he has nine RBIs this week alone.

    Here are the lineups for tonight’s second game against Seattle:

MARINERS

Marte 2B

Seager 3B

Cruz DH

Gutierrez LF

Trumbo RF

Jackson CF

Montero 1B

Miller SS

Zunino C

Walker RHP

TWINS

Dozier 2B

Hicks CF

Mauer 1B

Sano 3B

Hunter RF

Rosario LF

Nunez DH

Fryer C

Polanco SS

Milone LHP