The hottest team in baseball begins its seven-game road trip in a game against the Chicago White Sox on Friday night. The Seattle Mariners are riding a major league-best eight game winning streak.

Jason Vargas takes the hill for the Mariners. Vargas got the win in his last start against the Minnesota Twins, giving up two earned runs over eight hits in 6.2 innings of work. Friday night will be his first start of the season against the White Sox. Chicago will send out starter Jake Peavy who holds 9-9 record and a 3.11 ERA this season.

The Mariners are an American League best 25-13 since the All-Star break and is benefitting from clutch hitting and solid performances from its pitching staff.

On Wednesday afternoon, outfielder Eric Thames hit a two-out double in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Mariners a 3-1 lead and victory against the Cleveland Indians. The previous night on Tuesday, John Jaso doubled in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie and give the Mariners a 2-1 lead and an eventual 5-1 victory.

Friday's game will begin at 5:10 p.m. PT and will be televised on ROOT Sports.

For more news and analysis on the Mariners, head over to Lookout Landing. For more on the White Sox, check out South Side Sox. Check out all we have to offer on the MLB over at Baseball Nation.