On Deck will be here all season to provide you with everything you need to know (and a few things you don't) about every Rangers series during the 2015 season.
The Opponent: The Mariners are tied with the Rangers in last place in the AL West, which for Seattle is a total shock even though we're still less than 20 games into the season.
Past 2015 Meetings: The Mariners have won two of the first three meetings this year, including that gut-punch of an 11-10 win in extra innings in Seattle in what easily could've been a series victory for Texas.
Pitching Matchups: Monday — Yovani Gallardo (2-2, 3.92 ERA) vs. Taijuan Walker (0-2, 10.66); Tuesday — Ross Detwiler (0-2, 10.95) vs. J.A. Happ (1-1, 2.61); Wednesday — Wandy Rodriguez (0-0, 1.80) vs. Felix Hernandez (3-0, 1.61).
What's Hot: Gallardo has gotten progressively better with each start, and he'll look to continue that trend against a team he tossed six scoreless innings against just a little more than a week ago. Prince Fielder remains one of the league's hottest hitters, even if his teammates around him are doing nothing to help.
Felix Hernandez appears well on his way to another Cy Young-caliber campaign. While the Rangers have traditionally had great success against the Mariners' ace, this Rangers lineup isn't going to have success against anyone with any consistency.
What's Not: Ross Detwiler is really lucky to have a spot in the Rangers' rotation, and he'll be pitching Tuesday night on eight days of rest as the Rangers tinkered with the rotation to work in Rodriguez. If Detwiler doesn't turn it around soon, he'll be on his way out of the rotation. In fact, he already would be if it weren't for the Rangers' lack of healthy pitching depth waiting in the minors.
Sports Connection
Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.
Familiar Faces: Nelson Cruz is arguably the most feared bat in baseball right now, just as he was for much of the 2014 season in Baltimore. He leads the majors in home runs and killed the Rangers in their last meeting with two homers and a walkoff single in extra innings.
