Ichiro is still out, Adrian Beltre still swollen – and you know where! – and now Russell Branyan is on the disabled list with a herniated disk.

That leaves the team with no one with 20 home runs and only one player, Jose Lopez, with more than 55 RBI.

A team that’s won with pitching and defense is going to have to pitch better, defend with near perfection and somehow manage to score a run or two along the way.

It’s Ian Snell vs. Gil Meche.

Need runs? No problem!

Franklin Gutierrez and Josh Wilson

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This team has shuffled its roster, rotation and lineup all season, which may make its improvement all the more surprising.

Today, for instance, the Seattle Mariners won’t have Ichiro (calf), Adrian Beltre (testicle) or Russell Branyan (back) because of injuries.

In fact, a glance at the Mariners lineup tonight shows six players, including the starting pitcher, who weren’t in Seatle when the year began.

Josh Wilson was in San Diego, Bill Hall in Milwaukee, Jack Hannahan in Oakland, Jack Wilson in Pittsburgh, Ryan Langerhans in the minors and Ian Snell in Pittsburgh.

Here’s what

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The month has not been kind to Felix Hernandez, who’s started five times, posted a 2.45 earned run average in 33 innings and won once.

No decisions aainst the Rays, White Sox and Tigers were followed by a loss to the Indians, and the Mariners offense has been no where to be seen for Felix.

Tonight, a new lineup with Franklin Gutierrez leading off, and the combo of Josh Wilson, Ryan Langerhans and Rob Johnson at the back end.

Six of the nine men in the lneup don’t yet have 25 RBI for the season.

Pitch

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Ichiro is working in the outfield as this is being written, but he won’t be in tonight’s lineup.

Adrian Beltre is eligible to come off the disabled list today, but apparently won’t. And Josh-not-Jack Wilson is starting at shortstop despit Jack-not-Josh Wilson’s two-hit night Thursday.

Here’s who will be playing:

Franklin Gutierrez CF

Jack Hannahan 3B

Jose Lopez 2B

Russell Branyan 1B

Mike Sweeney DH

Bill Hall RF

Josh Wilson SS

Ryan Langerhans LF

Rob Johnson C

Felix Hernandez RHP

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Feel free to figure this one out: Seattle is 2-3 against Kansas City this season – and hasn’t even faced Zack Grienke yet!

Without Ichiro Suzuki for a fourth game in a row, the Mariners will keep Franklin Gutierrez as the leadoff hitter. He’s batting an even .500 the past three nights (6-for-12) and he’s drawn two walks.

Typically, however, that’s led to two runs for Seattle.

As the Mariners scratch for runs, Jack Wilson has gone 1-for-12 this week, Bill Hall and Michael Saunders have gone 2-for-10 and Kenji Johjima 0-for-7.

They’re all in the

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Not in the lineup, for the fourth day in a row.

Ichiro can swing, can throw and can jog, but the one thing he hasn’t done yet is run full out – a huge part of his game.

Until he can, both he and the Mariners agree he shouldn’t play.

“Ichiro’s heart says get in there, but he knows if he tears something, he could be done for the season,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “There’s still no time table for his return.”

Franklin Gutierrez will lead off in Ichiro’s spot, Bill Hall will play right field

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