Seattle's problem isn't really Tampa Bay specifically, it's that nothing has worked lately. The Mariners were shut out twice by Detroit in their last homestand before the Rays even showed up, and the lineup has managed all of 3 runs total across the first two games of this set. Injuries aren't helping — J.P. Crawford's on the shelf with wrist inflammation and Luke Raley is done for the year, which strips out two everyday bats a club already struggling to score can't really afford to lose.
Hancock's last time out wasn't a disaster — 6 innings, 3 earned against Detroit — but he took the loss anyway, which has basically been the story of Seattle's last week. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, keeps finding a way, and Jax's elbow scare barely slowed them down.
This is a series where the favorite has been proven right twice already, and there's no obvious reason for that to flip on getaway day. The Rays have the deeper roster, the better recent pitching, and now the freshest legs after using seven arms Saturday to spare Jax's spot. Seattle needs Hancock to be better than good — he needs to be the guy who finally breaks this streak, in front of a home crowd that's watched its team get outscored in bunches all week.