TORONTO -- The Seattle Mariners open up a new three-game series on Friday afternoon at the Toronto Blue Jays (4:15 p.m. PT), and they do so on the heels of winning consecutive series against the red-hot Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies.

Though the Mariners have been disappointing as a whole, they've been better of late, going 8-7 in their last 15 games and 11-12 in their August gauntlet schedule.

As a result of their better play, they are just three games back of the American League West-leading Houston Astros entering play on Friday. They are four back in the wild card.

The Blue Jays have also played better of late, though they just lost a series to the last-place Kansas City Royals, falling 13-2 on Thursday. Toronto is 65-70, 0.5 games ahead of Seattle in the wild card, so this series has big importance.

While the series has playoff implications, it doesn't have the same meaning that we expected it would have earlier this season. Both these teams were in the American League Championship Series a season ago and seemed like World Series contenders heading into the year.

Speaking on the most recent 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast, I broke down the storylines I'm waiting to see in this series at Rogers Centre.

"How does everybody handle being back in the place that ended your season a year ago? There are obviously new pieces on this team, and pieces that were not there. There are people like Cole Young who did not play in that series. But this is the place where your season ended. How do you handle the emotion of being back? You lost Game 6 and 7 in this ballpark.

How does it land for Julio Rodriguez? How does it land for Cal Raleigh? How does it land for Eduard Bazardo?

It's always going to be hard going back to a place where there are bad memories. I was there in the building last year when it happened. I was there for Game 6. I was there for Game 7. I was in the clubhouse after. I saw the look on Cal Raleigh's face in the tunnel, away from the camera. I saw Josh Naylor away from the camera. I heard the scream from Julio (Rodriguez) that we all heard about that came from behind the cameras and away from the cameras.

I was there for all of it. I spoke to Dan Wilson 15 minutes after that game had ended. I was as shell-shocked as anybody. They are the ones who now have to come out and pick up the pieces and play in this building again."

The top-rated pitching prospect in baseball made his major league debut last Saturday against the Cubs, giving up three earned runs over 5.2 innings. How does he look this time around - against a lineup that's not as good as the one he just faced?

The Blue Jays have struggled all year offensively, but this is still a challenge. Ernie Clement, Alejandro Kirk, George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are all accomplished right-handed hitters that present problems, and it's the first road start of Anderson's career.

How does he handle the routine? How does he handle the emotion? The Blue Jays are honoring Buck Martinez before the game, so there might be some different timings on things; does that throw him off?

It's all of those things that I want to see. 

Guerrero, though accomplished, is having a massive letdown year by his own standards. He's got just seven home runs, and has yet to hit one at home this season. It's been more than a calendar year since Guerrero homered at Rogers Centre. Can the Mariners keep that streak going, or will he find a way to wake up at the wrong time?

Guerrero is one of the worst hitters at home of any player in baseball this season.

Donovan went on the 7-day concussion injured list on Saturday and is, theoretically, able to come back this weekend. Will he be on the trip? Will he be ready to play on Saturday? The Mariners need him, and his possible return will be a major storyline to follow.

The 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast has released four new episodes this week. All can be accessed here on the audio front, while all can also be watched on YouTube.