3 Mike Zunino C

Zunino, who went 1-for-4 with a solo home run against the Astros on Sunday, now has four homers over his last five games.

The surge has led to a whopping .857 slugging percentage over that modest stretch, a span during which Zunino has made hard contact at a 53.3 percent rate. The slugging backstop had been in a rare power drought prior to his current heater, as he'd left the yard just twice in the 25 games he'd played between June 15 and Aug. 5.

Zunino is not starting Tuesday against the Rangers, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Zunino won't get the chance to build on his three-hit effort Monday night. Chris Herrmann will catch for Seattle for the second time in three games.

Zunino went 3-for-5 with a solo home run Monday in the win over the Rangers.

Zunino broke open the scoring in the fourth inning by sending a solo blast over the fence in left field. His three-hit performance was his first of the season, and his 12th multi-hit game of the 2018 campaign. Zunino is slashing .204/.258/.412 with a .670 OPS through 73 matchups this year.

Zunino is out of the lineup Sunday against the Blue Jays.

Chris Herrmann will serve as the Mariners' starting backstop in the series finale, affording Zunino some rest for the day game after the night game. Zunino struck out in all three of his at-bats Saturday and has gone 9-for-39 with a 1:17 BB:K in 11 games since returning from an ankle injury.

Zunino is out of the lineup against Houston on Tuesday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Zunino will take a seat following seven straight starts, including an 0-for-3 performance during Monday's series-opening victory. In his absence, Chris Herrmann will catch Mike Leake and bat sixth.