Up against Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-4, 4.22 ERA) and the Texas Rangers (60-57) in the second of a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Hisashi Iwakuma (4-2, 3.86 ERA) gets the start for the Seattle Mariners (55-64) in his first start since tossing a no-hitter. The Rangers won the last game 4-3, extending a five-game winning streak. The game gets underway at 8:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 18 and will air on RTNW and FSSW.
In his most recent outing, Gonzalez pitched 5.2 innings, giving up five runs, striking out four and walking five in a 6-5 loss to the Twins. Prince Fielder (.324, 57 Rs, 17 HRs, 69 RBIs) played well again yesterday, going 2 for 4. The Mariners were victorious over the Orioles 3-0 the last time Iwakuma pitched. He went 9.0 innings, allowing zero runs, striking out seven and walking three. Nelson Cruz (.321, 66 Rs, 36 HRs, 74 RBIs, 3 SBs) went 1 for 3 yesterday.
Texas, a +111 underdog, will look to capitalize at home against Seattle. The teams combine to set the Over/Under (O/U) at nine runs. The Rangers are 49-45 as the underdog and have an overall money line of +1,822. They have not performed well against their division, earning an SU record of 18-28 and a 16-24 record when they were the underdog. The Rangers come into the game with the third-ranked scoring offense in the AL, averaging 4.5 runs per game. The Rangers typically don’t swing at bad pitches, which has led to an impressive 3.2 walks per home game. Texas’s pitchers struggle within their division. The Rangers have given up an average of 5.4 runs to intra-division opponents, well over their defense’s season average of 4.8.
On the other side, the Mariners have a record of 31-38 when they are favored and are -1,536 overall with the money line. Against divisional foes, they are 23-22 SU and 13-14 as the favorite. Seattle has been playing better lately, averaging 4.8 runs per game, more than their season average of 3.8. The last 10 games have really brought the worst out of the Seattle pitchers. They allowed 7.6 runs per game during that span, which is higher than their season average of 4.5. They also have some of the most overpowering arms in the AL with an average of 7.9 strikeouts per game.
The Mariners had the upper hand against the Rangers in their previous 10 games this season, earning a 7-3 record. This game will feature Iwakuma (RHP) on the mound against the Rangers, who have a 39-35 record when they take on a right-handed starter. Taking the hill against the Mariners will be the right-hander Gonzalez. They sport a 41-45 record against righties.
Predictions: SU Winner – Sea, O/U – Over
Notes
In their last game, the Mariners lost by a margin of one run. The Rangers are 22-18 in one-run games. The Mariners have a 23-21 record in close games.
The Rangers managed to give up four walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Mariners who are coming in with a 23-18 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When they are outhit, the Rangers are 12-44. The Mariners have a 15-41 record when opponents outhit them.
Texas and Seattle both rank in the top 10 of the league in home runs. Texas sits at 10th with 122 home runs this season and Seattle ranks sixth with 139.
Ranking 11th, Seattle is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 8.34 per game. Texas ranks in the top five at fifth with 8.76.
Ranking 17th, Seattle is in the bottom half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.708). Texas ranks in the top 10 at ninth with an OPS of .734.
When the Mariners allow at least one home run, they are 26-53. When the Rangers allow one or more homers, they have a 31-44 record.
