Rangers at Mariners
James Paxton aims to continue his string of stellar performances when the Seattle Mariners host the Texas Rangers on Wednesday in the third contest of a four-game set. The left-hander is 3-0 with a 1.64 over his last six appearances, a stretch that includes a no-hitter against Toronto and a 16-strikeout performance against Oakland.
Paxton has allowed just 12 total hits in 31 innings over his past four starts and will look to stymie a Texas squad that had 12 hits - six for extra bases - in Tuesday's 9-5 triumph. Rougned Odor had a three-run tiebreaking double in the ninth inning and Ronald Guzman went 4-for-4 with three RBIs as the Rangers won for the fifth time in their past eight games. Texas handed Seattle only its second setback in its past 11 games and the Mariners' pitching fell apart - the carnage included eight walks and two hit by pitches - after allowing just 20 runs over the previous 10 games. Seattle shortstop Jean Segura (concussion) returned from a two-game absence to go 3-for-5 and he is a stellar 10-for-17 over his past four contests.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), ROOT Sports Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Matt Moore (1-5, 7.99 ERA) vs. Mariners LH James Paxton (4-1, 3.10)
Moore will be activated from the disabled list prior to Wednesday's outing after being sidelined with right knee soreness. The 28-year-old is winless over his last five starts and pitched four innings or fewer in three of them. Moore is 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA in five career starts against Seattle and has kept Kyle Seager (3-for-14) in check.
Paxton allowed one run, three hits, walked none and struck out 11 in seven innings while defeating the Minnesota Twins in his last turn. The 29-year-old has struck out 90 and allowed just 47 hits over 69 2/3 innings while sporting a stellar 0.96 WHIP. Paxton is just 2-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 11 career starts against the Rangers and his worst outing of this season came against Texas on April 21 when he gave up five runs and six hits over four innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners DH Nelson Cruz went 2-for-4 with a homer on Tuesday but is batting just .185 in May.
2. Texas DH Shin-Soo Choo homered on Tuesday and is 8-for-22 with three homers and 11 walks during a seven-game hitting streak.
3. Seattle 2B Dee Gordon (fractured right big toe) is expected to come off the disabled list on Thursday.