Seattle @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 20, 2013 ) Seattle 0, Texas 5

The Texas Rangers seek their first series sweep of the season Sunday when they host the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners simply want to score. In the first two meetings of the three-game set, eight Rangers pitchers have combined to blank Seattle, which entered the series having gone 48 straight games without being shut out. Texas did it Saturday after only 1 2/3 innings from starter Nick Tepesch, who had to leave after taking a line drive off his right arm.

That placed some emphasis on the Rangers' bullpen, which got a big boost from Derek Lowe and three others to limit the workload. Still, Texas would love a lengthier outing from Justin Grimm, who went four innings in his only start this season. The Mariners have lost 12 of their last 17 games and have produced five runs in their last five contests, looking very much like the team that has finished last in the American League West each of the past three straight seasons.

TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Seattle), Fox Sports Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Aaron Harang (0-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Justin Grimm (0-0, 4.50)

Harang's first start with Seattle (and his first in the American League since 2003) was not quite as bad as the line would suggest. He gave up three runs in five innings, but all three came in on an RBI single and a two-run homer by Miguel Cabrera, who does that sort of thing to many pitchers. Harang struck out six and did not walk a batter. The one-time Texas draft pick has pitched three previous times in Rangers Ballpark, giving up an astounding 16 runs on 19 hits in 11 2/3 innings.

Grimm was the starter when the Rangers defeated Felix Hernandez and the Mariners on April 11, but he did not factor in the decision. The 24-year-old lasted four innings, giving up two runs on five hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts. That outing came at Safeco Field, but Grimm has not had much success at Rangers Ballpark. In 10 innings in Arlington last season, he gave up 10 runs on 18 hits, with opponents batting .400 against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers DH Lance Berkman has 15 hits in 58 career at-bats against Harang, but seven of them are homers and four are doubles.

2. Seattle has been held without a run in 32 of its last 33 innings.

3. Texas is 159-92 at home since 2010. The New York Yankees lead the majors in that span with a nearly identical 160-92 mark.

PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Mariners 4