Texas @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 11, 2013 ) Texas 4, Seattle 3

Yu Darvish has pronounced himself healthy from a finger blister that forced him out of his second start as the Texas Rangers visit the Seattle Mariners on Friday in the second of a four-game series. Darvish retired the first 26 batters against Houston in his season debut before allowing a single and faces fellow Japanese countrymate Hisashi Iwakuma for the second time in the majors. The two opposed each other six times in Japan.

Darvish beat Iwakuma last September in their first major-league matchup and will look to help Texas beat the Mariners for the second straight night. Texas won the series opener 4-3 when it spoiled Felix Hernandez’s second attempt at his 100th career victory. Seattle will be without slugging outfielder Michael Morse, who broke his right pinkie finger in Thursday’s game. Morse has six homers and could return early next week, according to Mariners manager Eric Wedge. Seattle went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position in the opener.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, KTXA (Texas), ROOT (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Yu Darvish (2-0, 1.98 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Hisashi Iwakuma (1-0, 2.57)

Darvish went 2-2 against the Mariners last season but had a high 6.65 ERA. He allowed 22 hits and walked 16 in 23 innings. Darvish beat the Los Angeles Angels in his last outing when he gave up three runs and six hits in five innings before leaving due to the blister.

Iwakuma has allowed just six hits and hasn’t walked anyone in 14 innings over his first two starts. He took a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox in his last start when he allowed three runs and four hits. Iwakuma is 1-2 with a 5.31 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against Texas.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers C A.J. Pierzynski homered in the opener and expertly blocked the plate to thwart Seattle’s game-tying suicide-squeeze attempt in the eighth inning.

2. Texas OF David Murphy is 5-for-9 with a homer against Iwakuma and 2B Ian Kinsler is 4-for-9 with two homers.

3. Mariners DH Kendrys Morales is hitless in 13 at-bats against Darvish and has struck out eight times.

PREDICTION: Rangers 5, Mariners 3