Indians at Mariners
The Seattle Mariners look to open the season with two straight victories when they host the Cleveland Indians for the middle contest of a three-game series on Saturday afternoon. Nelson Cruz belted a two-run, first-inning homer off reigning American League Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in a 2-1 victory in the opener Thursday and it should be another low-scoring contest Saturday with two pitchers coming off career-best seasons.
Cleveland right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who won 18 games in 2017, faces emerging lefty James Paxton in Saturday’s contest after the teams combined for just 11 hits and 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position Thursday. Cruz launched his 26th homer in 79 career games against the Indians on Thursday and went 8-for-19 with four blasts and seven RBIs during the season series last season. Lonnie Chisenhall doubled and scored the only run on Yan Gomes’ bloop single in the opener for Cleveland, which left the tying run at third base in the ninth inning and had just two hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings against starter Felix Hernandez. “Two runs usually doesn’t get us.” Gomes told reporters. “But they pitched really well. It’s one of those things when you’re battling Kluber, the best is going to come out of everyone.”
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), ROOT Sports Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (2017: 18-6, 3.29 ERA) vs. Mariners LH James Paxton (2017: 12-5, 2.98)
Carrasco looks to carry over the success from an outstanding 2017 season when he finished fourth in the American League Cy Young voting with career highs in wins, strikeouts (226), innings (200) and starts (32). The 31-year-old Venezuelan was 11-2 with a 2.65 ERA on the road in 2017 and pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings at New York in the playoffs without getting a decision. Robinson Cano is 7-for-20 with two homers and six RBIs against Carrasco, who is 5-4 with a 2.69 ERA versus Seattle in 10 games (nine starts).
Paxton is primed for a big campaign after the oft-injured 29-year-old Canadian put together his best season in 2017 with career highs in wins, starts (24), innings (136) and strikeouts (156). The University of Kentucky product was 7-3 with a 2.45 ERA at home last season as opposed to 5-2 and a 3.66 mark on the road while allowing just nine homers overall. Veteran Rajai Davis is 5-for-11 with a homer versus Paxton, who did not face the Indians last season and is 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA lifetime in 10 2/3 innings against them.
WALK-OFFS
1. Seattle OF Mitch Haniger went 3-for-3 with a double in the season opener after hitting .282 in his first full season in 2017.
2. Cleveland 3B Jose Ramirez went 0-for-4 in the opener, but was 8-for-23 with three homers and eight RBIs versus Seattle last season.
3. Mariners C Mike Zunino was a late scratch from the lineup Thursday with stiffness in his right side, but hopes to play Saturday.