Chicago @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 4, Seattle 0
It figures that the Chicago White Sox will be going for their first series sweep of the Seattle Mariners in 16 years on Wednesday night. Just about everything the Mariners have done lately has turned to dust.
In the midst of its worst July ever at just 3-14, Seattle has never completed a July with fewer than five victories. With Boston coming to town for four games followed by a four-game set in Chicago against these White Sox, that mark could be in jeopardy.
The Mariners (36-58) are last in the majors in just about every offensive category – average (.236), home runs (60), RBIs (297) and popcorn sales. OK maybe not the latter, but they managed just two singles in Tuesday night’s 4-0 shutout as John Danks allowed them almost nothing in picking up his 10th win of the season.
The White Sox have won all five games against the Mariners this season and are a season-best 3½ games ahead of Minnesota and Detroit for the American League Central lead.
Seattle’s woes are not limited to on-field performance.
Russell Branyan, the team’s best power hitter, is expected to miss a few more days after back spasms forced him to leave Monday’s game in the fifth inning.
Oh, and after Tuesday’s game, Seattle left-hander Erik Bedard told a reporter he probably will not pitch again this season.
Bedard, the Ontario native who had surgery on his throwing shoulder last August, was ready to return earlier this month but has had discomfort and irritation with the shoulder. The Mariners were tight-lipped about results of an MRI exam on Monday, and Bedard is reportedly getting opinions from two doctors.
So what is it going to take for the Mariners to stop an insufferable July? Magic? Divine intervention? Maybe a king?
That’s exactly what the Mariners will resort to in tonight’s series finale.
King Felix Hernandez is not only the Mariners’ best option, he might be their only option.
Hernandez is first in the AL in innings pitched (145 2/3) and second in strikeouts (134) and complete games (5). Despite a 7-6 record, Hernandez is still considered a viable candidate for the AL Cy Young Award, for which he finished second last season.
In his last seven starts, Hernandez is 4-1 with a 1.66 ERA.
The White Sox (52-41) will start Gavin Floyd (5-8, 4.10), who has not had the best of luck against the Mariners, going 1-4 with a 7.41 ERA in his career. The White Sox committed an uncharacteristic four errors in his last start, a 7-4 loss to Minnesota on Friday.