Texas @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 27, 2013 ) Texas 4, Seattle 3

Seattle ace Felix Hernandez looks to atone for a rough outing against Texas earlier this month when the Mariners host the Rangers on Wednesday to conclude a three-game series. The American League Cy Young candidate gave up five runs, five hits and five walks in five innings during Seattle’s 15-3 loss on August 17 for one of his three defeats over his last four decisions. Hernandez is 0-3 with a 5.55 ERA in four starts against Texas this season.

The Rangers have won six of their last eight games, are 18-6 in August and hold a 2 1/2-game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the AL West. Ian Kinsler went 4-for-5 and scored the decisive run Tuesday on a 10th-inning balk by Seattle reliever Danny Farquhar. The Mariners are struggling offensively and have been outscored 26-8 during a five-game losing streak that coincided with the return of manager Eric Wedge from a stroke.

TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), ROOT (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Martin Perez (7-3, 3.62 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (12-7, 2.63)

Perez has won four consecutive starts, including one against Seattle on August 17 when he gave up three runs and eight hits in seven innings. He is 1-1 with a 2.49 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) against the Mariners. Perez beat the Chicago White Sox in his last start, allowing four runs and eight hits in seven innings.

Hernandez has a 4.88 ERA over his troublesome four-start stretch and one of the outings was eight innings of shutout ball against the Milwaukee Brewers. He has allowed 33 hits and 10 walks in 24 1/3 innings against the Rangers this season. The struggles continue a career-long pattern for Hernandez – he is 12-19 with a 3.94 ERA in 38 career outings against Texas.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers SS Elvis Andrus is 9-for-25 during a five-game hitting streak.

2. Mariners 2B Nick Franklin is 0-for-11 over his last four games.

3. Texas OF David Murphy is batting .329 with three homers and 16 RBIs in 73 career at-bats against Hernandez.

PREDICTION: Rangers 5, Mariners 2