PREMIUM
Rogers' 9* ESPN Monday Night Feature - Mariners @ Rangers
(MLB) Seattle vs. Texas,
08/29/2016 4:05 PM, Score: 3 - 6
Point Spread: 1.50 | -135.00 Seattle (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 1.50 | -135.00 Seattle (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Texas Rangers are 8 1/2 games up in the AL West on both the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros. Starting Monday, the Rangers will play their next 10 games against the Mariners (seven) and Astros (three), so there is a possibly the AL West could be all but decided in the next two weeks. Seattle and Texas open a three-game series tonight at Globe Life Park. The Mariners have dropped five of their last six to fall three games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild-card spot and the pressure is on to "win now," if Seattle wants to keep its playoff hopes alive, as the Mariners hope to reach the postseason for the first time since 2001.
The pitching matchup: Hisashi Iwakuma (14-9, 3.81 ERA) of Seattle and Yu Darvish (4-3, 2.91 ERA) of Texas make this just the 14th time in major-league history two Japanese-born pitchers will square off. Iwakuma opened the season 1-4 (4.38) through his first eight starts but has since factored into the decision in each of his last 18, going 13-5 with a 3.56 ERA. Despite losing two straight, he's 5-3 with a 2.77 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break. Darvish will make his 12th start of 2016, in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. "I think I'm in a better position than I expected. Looking around at other guys who have had Tommy John surgery compared to some of the guys who are struggling, I think I'm in a better place than I was expecting," he said. Darvish has a 48-4 KW ratio over his last six starts and has not lost at home this season (4-0 with a 2.80 ERA in six home starts / Rangers are 4-2).
The pick: Iwakuma is 9-5 with a 3.23 ERA in 17 career starts vs. the Rangers (Mariners are 11-6), while Darvish is 4-3 with 4.50 ERA in nine starts (Rangers are 5-4) against Seattle. Game 1 of the series is a "big one" for Seattle and while Darvish has posted excellent numbers in his 2016 "comeback," the Rangers are just 6-5 in his 11 starts. Iwakuma has been Seattle's ace this season, as injuries have limited "King Felix" to 18 starts, and taking the 1 1/2 runs is YUGE! Seattle is a 9* play on the run-line.
The pitching matchup: Hisashi Iwakuma (14-9, 3.81 ERA) of Seattle and Yu Darvish (4-3, 2.91 ERA) of Texas make this just the 14th time in major-league history two Japanese-born pitchers will square off. Iwakuma opened the season 1-4 (4.38) through his first eight starts but has since factored into the decision in each of his last 18, going 13-5 with a 3.56 ERA. Despite losing two straight, he's 5-3 with a 2.77 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break. Darvish will make his 12th start of 2016, in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. "I think I'm in a better position than I expected. Looking around at other guys who have had Tommy John surgery compared to some of the guys who are struggling, I think I'm in a better place than I was expecting," he said. Darvish has a 48-4 KW ratio over his last six starts and has not lost at home this season (4-0 with a 2.80 ERA in six home starts / Rangers are 4-2).
The pick: Iwakuma is 9-5 with a 3.23 ERA in 17 career starts vs. the Rangers (Mariners are 11-6), while Darvish is 4-3 with 4.50 ERA in nine starts (Rangers are 5-4) against Seattle. Game 1 of the series is a "big one" for Seattle and while Darvish has posted excellent numbers in his 2016 "comeback," the Rangers are just 6-5 in his 11 starts. Iwakuma has been Seattle's ace this season, as injuries have limited "King Felix" to 18 starts, and taking the 1 1/2 runs is YUGE! Seattle is a 9* play on the run-line.
