Mariners at Rangers
The Seattle Mariners were stuck in neutral offensively for the better part of their recent seven-game homestand, but a trip to Texas appears to be all they need to round back into form. Riding high after a pair of late-inning surges this weekend, the Mariners seek their first sweep of the season on Sunday, when they conclude a three-game set with the host Rangers.
Seattle scored fewer than three runs in every contest during a 1-4 stretch prior to hitting the road for the first leg of a three-city, 10-game trek. However, the Mariners used a four-run surge in the ninth inning on Friday to break open a tie game en route to a 6-2 victory before receiving homers from Robinson Cano and Mitch Haniger during a five-run seventh to grab the lead on Saturday and hold on for a 9-7 win. Texas has lost four of five since taking two of three from the Astros in Houston last weekend, causing it to drop into last place in the American League West. The Rangers find themselves in that position mostly due to their inability to win at home, where they are 2-10 overall and have dropped six straight.
TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (2017: 5-6, 4.39 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Martin Perez (1-2, 13.14)
Ramirez will make his season debut after going 1-3 with a 3.92 ERA in 11 starts with the club last year after being acquired from Tampa Bay in late July. The 27-year-old Nicaraguan, who has been on the disabled list since March due to a lat injury, went 0-1 with a 2.13 ERA in two minor-league stops during his rehab assignment. Joey Gallo is 2-for-3 with a pair of solo homers against Ramirez, who is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 15 career appearances (six starts) versus the Rangers.
Perez's spot in the rotation figures to be in jeopardy after his last two outings, including Monday's loss in Tampa Bay during which he surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and three walks in four frames. The 27-year-old Venezuelan, who is allowing opponents to bat .455 with runners in scoring position, was even less effective six days earlier as he permitted eight runs over three innings versus the Los Angeles Angels. Perez has fared well against the Mariners in 17 career games (15 starts), however, going 6-4 with a 3.28 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners DH Nelson Cruz, who played for Texas from 2006-13, homered for the 100th time at Globe Life Park on Saturday.
2. The Rangers' home ERA is a league-worst 6.64, while its 3.10 mark on the road ranks seventh in the majors.
3. Seattle has registered at least 10 hits in 11 of its last 19 meetings with Texas.