Taijuan Walker (2-3, 2.95 ERA) and the Seattle Mariners (26-17) take on Rich Hill (6-3, 2.54 ERA) and the Oakland Athletics (19-26) in a game that has the potential to be low scoring. This is the first of a three-game series at Safeco Field. Action begins at 10:10 p.m. ET on Monday, May. 23 and can be seen on CSCA and RTNW.
Walker pitched 5.0 innings in his last outing, surrendering four runs (one unearned), striking out three and walking two in a 5-2 defeat to the Orioles. Robinson Cano (.288, 28 Rs, 12 HRs, 39 RBIs) went 1 for 4 yesterday with two RBIs. Hill went 6.0 innings, surrendering one run, striking out six and walking one in an 8-1 win over the Rangers in his most recent start.
Notes
In their last game, the Athletics lost by a margin of one run. The Mariners are 9-6 in one-run games. The Athletics have a 6-7 record in close games.
The Mariners are coming into this game after allowing one walk during their last outing. The Athletics have a 5-12 record when opponents give up one walk or less.
It looks like the Mariners have a slight leg up on the Athletics, as the Mariners have won their last four games while the Athletics have lost their last four.
When they outhit their opponents, the Athletics are 15-3. The Mariners have a 21-3 record when outhitting opponents.
Ranking 22nd, Oakland sits near the bottom of the league in runs, scoring 173 this season. Seattle ranks in the top 10 at seventh with 201.
Ranking 26th, Oakland is near the bottom of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.679). Seattle ranks in the top 10 with an OPS of .747.
When the Athletics allow at least one home run, they are 8-21. When the Mariners allow one or more homers, they have a 17-12 record.
