Smoak dropped to seventh in order on Wednesday

Wednesday’s Mariners lineup is out and while Eric Wedge isn’t benching the slumping Justin Smoak, he’s certainly giving him a new look for today’s 4:05 p.m. game against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Smoak is hitting just .190 in 21 games with three home runs and nine RBIs, not the kind of first month anybody was hoping for from the big guy, including Smoak himself obviously.

So Wedge is giving Smoak the “half day off” today, putting him at DH and inserting Alex Liddi at first. More significantly, the skipper has dropped Smoak to seventh in the batting order.

Jesus Montero, who went 4-for-4 last night, is hitting cleanup tonight and catching, the first time he’s caught back-to-back games this season.

That means no Mike Carp in the lineup yet and no John Jaso either against Tampa Bay right hander James Shields.

We’ll talk to Wedge shortly and update with his thoughts on Mariners.com.

Here’s today’s full lineup:

Chone Figgins LF
Dustin Ackley 2B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Jesus Montero C
Kyle Seager 3B
Alex Liddi 1B
Justin Smoak DH
Michael Saunders CF
Brendan Ryan SS

Blake Beavan P