Mariners at Rangers
Five days after they gained a split of a four-game series at Safeco Field, the Texas Rangers return home to begin a three-game set against the same Seattle Mariners on Friday. The Rangers followed up that split with another in a two-game series, shortened by a postponement, at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. A Texas offense that has yet to get going in the post-Josh Hamilton era managed just four hits against three Cubs pitchers in a 6-2 setback Thursday afternoon.
The Rangers entered Thursday ranked 12th in the American League in runs and last in doubles. They have been a better offensive club at home, as usual, and will get to miss Felix Hernandez this time around. The Mariners are coming off perhaps their most uplifting win of the young season, a 2-0 shutout of the Detroit Tigers and Justin Verlander on Thursday. Hisashi Iwakuma and two relievers combined on a gem and Seattle got two runs in the seventh off Verlander to finish their 10-game homestand at 4-6.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Seattle), TXA21 (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Joe Saunders (1-1, 2.08 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Yu Darvish (2-1, 2.75)
Saunders is one of several pitchers to have good success against Texas this season. The 31-year-old allowed just an unearned run on three hits in seven innings against the Rangers on Saturday,and did not get a decision in the 3-1 loss. However, Saunders has not enjoyed many encounters over the years. He is 3-7 with a 5.79 ERA in 12 career starts against Texas and has been abysmal at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Saunders has lost all six of his starts there while posting a 9.38 ERA. The lefty has given up 13 home runs in 31 2/3 innings at Arlington.
Darvish has come down to earth since flirting with a perfect game in his first start of the season, but he was very solid last Friday at Seattle, giving up three runs on just three hits in six innings. He finished with eight strikeouts and only one walk and has 28 Ks against just five free passes in 19 2/3 innings this season. Unlike Saunders, Darvish has taken a liking to the conditions in Arlington -- he was 10-2 with a 3.88 ERA in 14 starts there last season, including a solid seven-inning performance against the Mariners on Sept. 14.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler is 10-for-27 with four home runs and two doubles against Saunders.
2. Neither team scored more than four runs in any of the four games at Safeco Field last weekend.
3. Seattle has scored at least one run in 48 consecutive games.
PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Mariners 2