In a bit of a statistical anomaly, Cole Hamels will make his third start against the Seattle Mariners this season — his third in seven starts as a Texas Ranger since being acquired at the July 31 trade deadline.
In fact, Hamels made consecutive starts against the Mariners on Aug. 7 and Aug. 17 after an extended break between his second and third starts with Texas, and neither one went particularly well.
Hamels is 0-1 against the Mariners this year with a no-decision thrown in, but the Rangers went 1-1 in the two games. He's pitched 13 innings in the two starts and compiled an ERA of 4.85 with 15 strikeouts and six walks. He's allowed three home runs.
Since that two-game span, Hamels has made three starts and is 2-0 with a more Hamels-like 2.57 ERA with 20 strikeouts and seven walks. He'll have a leg up on himself from those first two starts with the likelihood that Rangers killer Nelson Cruz is most likely out again with a quadriceps injury, and even if he's back, he won't be 100 percent.
