Mariners at Rangers
The Seattle Mariners are trying to recover from a season-high five-game slide and seek their third straight triumph when they visit the Texas Rangers on Wednesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Seattle squandered a three-run lead in the series opener before Ryon Healy's tiebreaking single in the 12th inning provided for a 4-3 victory.
Healy has registered back-to-back two-hit performances after going 2-for-28 over his previous nine contests. Nelson Cruz also has notched consecutive two-hit performances for the Mariners and has collected seven homers and 14 RBIs over his last 11 games. Texas' Elvis Andrus has gone 26-for-74 during his career-best 17-game hitting streak that also is the longest active stretch in the major leagues. All-Star Shin-Soo Choo struck out four times in six at-bats in the opener and is a woeful 9-for-62 with 26 strikeouts in his last 15 contests.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (8-9, 5.49 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Bartolo Colon (5-10, 5.18)
Hernandez has dropped three straight decisions and pitched five or fewer innings in each of his last five turns. The 32-year-old's rotation spot no longer is solid as the Mariners have discussed pulling their former ace from his starting role. Hernandez has posted a 6.10 ERA in two no-decisions against Texas this season and is 19-24 with a 4.07 ERA in 56 career starts versus the club.
Colon has lost five straight starts as he remains tied with Nicaragua's Dennis Martinez (245) for most career victories by a pitcher from Latin America. The 45-year-old Dominican has been roughed up for 16 runs and 24 hits over 16 2/3 innings in his last three turns. Colon is 21-12 with a 3.77 ERA in 39 career starts against Seattle, including a 1-0 mark and 2.70 ERA in two outings this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners 2B Robinson Cano began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Tacoma on Monday as his 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs nears completion - he is eligible to be reinstated by Seattle on Aug. 14.
2. Texas OF Nomar Mazara (right thumb) is slated to begin a rehab assignment later this week.
3. Seattle's Mike Zunino went 3-for-5 with his 89th career homer on Monday to surpass Dan Wilson (1994-2005) for most blasts by a catcher in franchise history.