Mariners at Rangers
Hisashi Iwakuma returns to the mound for the first time since tossing a no-hitter as the visiting Seattle Mariners look to even their three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. The 34-year-old native of Japan earned American League Player of the Week honors after striking out seven in a 3-0 win over Baltimore on Wednesday.
Iwakuma will vie for his third straight win and fifth in six decisions when he faces Texas, against which he owns a 7-3 record and 3.50 ERA in 13 career appearances. Winners of five in a row overall, the red-hot Rangers have emerged victorious in nine straight at home for the first time since July 4-23, 2011. Adrian Beltre recorded a pair of run-scoring doubles before he worked a game-ending walk with the bases loaded in Monday's 4-3 victory to improve to 11-for-23 (.478) with eight RBIs during his five-game hitting streak. Beltre has enjoyed considerable success versus Iwakuma, going 11-for-33 in his career.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), FSN Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Hisashi Iwakuma (4-2, 3.86 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-4, 4.22)
Iwakuma allowed three runs on six hits in seven innings of Seattle's 4-3 victory over Texas on Aug. 7. The veteran did not walk a batter in that contest and has issued only 12 free passes in 72 1/3 frames this season. Iwakuma has been particularly strong on the road, going 1-0 with a slim 0.99 WHIP while allowing the opposition to bat just .206 against him.
Gonzalez struggled in his spot start in place of Cole Hamels (groin), yielding five runs and as many hits in 5 2/3 innings before walking away with a no-decision versus Minnesota on Thursday. Speaking of walks, the 23-year-old issued five to drive up his pitch count against the Twins. Gonzalez is 0-4 with a 6.03 ERA in his last six outings, having last won when he tossed a complete-game gem versus Kansas City on June 5.
WALK-OFFS
1. Seattle LF Franklin Gutierrez is 5-for-15 (.333) with two homers, six RBIs and four runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.
2. Texas RF Shin-Soo Choo has reached base 44 times in his last 22 starts.
3. The Mariners have won seven of the 10 meetings between the AL West rivals this season.