SEATTLE -- While the return of Felix Hernandez has been aligned with the Seattle Mariners battle back into playoff contention, it was the consistency of fellow starter Hisashi Iwakuma that had a more direct effect on Seattles August boon.That the Mariners have fallen back in the wild-card race at a time when Iwakuma is struggling is more than simple coincidence.Iwakuma (14-10) heads into his scheduled Sunday appearance on a three-start losing streak. Hes 0-3 with a 5.63 ERA over his past three starts, dating back to Aug. 18. Over that period of just over two weeks, the Mariners (69-66) have gone 5-11. The starting rotation, once a strength of the team, has become a liability. Saturday starter Taijuan Walker was the latest to struggle, allowing six runs without making it out of the first inning in a 10-3 loss to the Angels.I did not expect that tonight, manager Scott Servais said.Its become more the norm than an outlier for the Seattle starter to struggle recently. Not even Iwakuma and Hernandez have been able to avoid getting hit hard as the Mariners sink in the wild-card standings.It hasnt been a good series for the starting pitchers on either side. The Angels Tyler Skaggs turned in the best performance of any starter Saturday, but he served up a two-run homer in the first inning. The two teams have combined to score 13 runs in the first inning over the first two games of the series.You cant take any inning for granted, Angels star Albert Pujols said after hitting two home runs Saturday night and moving ahead of Frank Robinson into ninth place on the all-time list.Angels starter Matt Shoemaker may bring better results if he keeps on the pace hes put up in recent starts. Shoemaker (9-13) has added some semblance of stabilization to a starting rotation thats been in shambles for most of the season. He has won each of his past three starts as the struggling Angels (60-75) have begun showing some signs of life. Theyve won six of seven.One of Shoemakers recent wins came over a Seattle team that beat him twice earlier in the season. Hell face the Mariners for the third time this year when the Angels finish their series in Seattle on Sunday afternoon.Shoemaker has been one of the few bright spots for a Los Angeles rotation thats already used 13 different starters. The Angels have tried to resurrect the career of former Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum and have rolled the dice on struggling veterans like Ricky Nolasco, Jhoulys Chacin and Brett Oberholtzer -- with mixed results.The game will mark the first of back-to-back afternoon games for the Mariners during the holiday weekend. Seattle hosts a three-game series with the AL West-leading Rangers beginning Monday afternoon. Texas has really had the Mariners number this season, winning the past five meetings while going 11-4 in the head-to-head matchup.Fake Marlins Jerseys . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Bob Natal Jersey . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/681r-ralph-milliard-jersey-marlins.html .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. Drew Steckenrider Jersey . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Adam Conley Jersey . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007.College football national championships arent won in the first half of the season.Ask Baylor, Utah?and TCU, all of which were ranked in the top four after seven weeks of the 2015 season. Of course, none of them made the College Football Playoff, and eventual national champion Alabama was ranked No. 8 after seven games, before climbing to the top at seasons end.But the midpoint of the season at least gives us a chance to look back at what transpired during the first half. And there were plenty of thrilling finishes, compelling storylines and memorable plays and performances.Heres your chance to vote for the best in college football from the first half of the 2016 season:Offensive player of the yearSchlabach says?...?Lamar Jackson, LouisvilleThe sophomore has accounted for 30 touchdowns, which is more than 98 FBS teams have scored at this point. Enough said.Defensive player of the yearSchlabach says?...?Jabrill Peppers, MichiganPeppers has played so many positions for the Wolverines so far this season its getting hard to keep track. On defense, he has 38 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2? sacks, six quarterback hurries and one forced fumble. Plus, hes averaging nearly 20 yards per carry on offense and is as dynamic as any kick returner in the country.Coach of the yearSchlabach says?...?Mike MacIntyre, ColoradoAfter winning a total of two Pac-12 games in MacIntyres first three seasons, the Buffaloes are 5-2 overall, 3-1 in the league, and in the thick of the Pac-12 South race.Best first-year coachSchlabach says?...?Justin Fuente, Virginia TechSure, the Hokies 34-17 loss at Syracuse last week took some luster off the first half of Fuentes first season at Virginia Tech. But the Hokies are 4-2 and upset then-No. 17 North Carolina 34-3 on the road and remain very much in the thick of a crowded ACC Coastal title race. Not bad for a guy who had the unenviable task of replacing legendary coach Frank Beamer.Biggest surprise teamSchlabach says?...West VirginiaWho else had the Mountaineers unbeaten through five games? Theyve yet to face the meat of the Big 12 schedule, but their 48-17 rout of Texas Tech on the road last week was an eye-opener. Theyre in the mix for a Big 12 title, and play No. 16 Oklahoma and No. 9 Baylor at home.Most disappointing teamSchlabach says?... Notre DameThe Fighting Irish are 2-5, their worst start since beginning 1-6 during a 3-9 campaign in 2007, and they just lost to Stanford, which didnt have star tailback Christian McCaffrey. Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder was fired after four games, and quarterback DeShone Kizer now looks lost.Coach on the hot seatSchlabach says?... Charlie Strong, TexasBarring a complete turnaround down the stretch, the Longhorns will probably be looking for a new coach after the season. Strong has a 14-17 record in two-plus seasons in Austin, and he demoted defensive coordinator Vance Bedford earlier this month. It was the second time in as many years that he changed coordinators during the season.Coach on the riseSchlabach says?... Tom Herman, HoustonHerman is the hottest name in the coaching carousel right now, and he might have his pick among LSU, Texas (if it opens) and other openings at seasons end. The Big 12s decision to table expansion for now only increases the odds oof him leaving Houston.ddddddddddddComeback playerSchlabach says?... James Conner, PittsburghConner battled Hodgkins lymphoma during the offseason, while he worked his way back from the torn ACL that sidelined him for the 2015 season. He was declared cancer-free on May 23 and leads the Panthers with 531 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.Top freshman (offense)Schlabach says?... Jalen Hurts, AlabamaHurts, the first freshman to start at quarterback for Nick Saban, has led the No. 1 Crimson Tide to a 7-0 record. He has completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 1,385 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions, while rushing for 428 yards with eight scores.Top freshman (defense)Schlabach says?... Dexter Lawrence, ClemsonLawrence, a 6-foot-5, 340-pound defensive tackle, has helped defending ACC champion Clemson replace its top two pass-rushers from last season. He has 44 tackles, 4? tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 17 quarterback pressures in seven games.Heisman front-runnerSchlabach says?... Lamar JacksonJackson was a one-man highlight show in the first half of the season. He has already rushed for 15 touchdowns and thrown for 15 scores, and hes on pace to become only the fourth player in FBS history to finish a season with 20 touchdowns rushing and passing. Hes completing 58.2 percent of his passes for 1,806 yards and leads the No. 7 Cardinals with 832 rushing yards.Best finishSchlabach says?...?Tennessee 34, Georgia 31After the Volunteers rallied from a 17-point deficit to take a 28-24 lead with less than three minutes to play, Georgias Jacob Eason fired a 47-yard touchdown to Riley Ridley to put the Bulldogs in front 31-28 with 10 seconds left. But then Joshua Dobbs threw a 43-yard touchdown to Jauan Jennings on a Hail Mary pass on the final play, giving the Volunteers an improbable 34-31 victory on Oct. 1.Biggest upsetSchlabach says?...?Navy 46, Houston 40The Midshipmens stunning upset of the then-No. 6 Cougars on Oct. 8 might have cost Houston an AAC title and possibly a spot in the College Football Playoff. It was Navys first win over a top-10 opponent since upsetting then-No. 2 South Carolina in 1984, and ended its 0-18 drought against AP top-10 foes.Best playsSchlabach says?...?Lamar Jacksons touchdown run against Florida StateJackson had more than a few Heisman-esque moments in the first half of the season (like his leap over Syracuse cornerback Cordell Hudson), but his 47-yard touchdown run in a 63-20 rout of then-No. 2 Florida State was most memorable. It featured a nasty cut and electrifying spin move into the end zone. It even prompted Michael Vick to proclaim on Twitter that Jackson was five times better than he was at Virginia Tech.Worst playsSchlabach says?...?South Carolina State kick returner forgets to take a kneeDuring a season in which weve seen far too many players drop the ball before the goal line, South Carolina States Ahmaad Harris might have taken the prize in the Bulldogs 59-0 loss at Clemson. After a Tigers touchdown, Harris fielded the kickoff and flipped the ball to an official -- before taking a knee. Clemson recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. ' ' '