Seattle @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 26, 2010 ) Seattle 1, Chi. White Sox 6
The Chicago White Sox have batted the Seattle Mariners around like a piñata this season, winning six of seven games with double-digit hits in five of them.
The impressive run includes Monday’s 6-1 victory over Felix Hernandez in the series opener as the White Sox collected 13 total hits.
Chicago has won eight in a row overall at home, its best streak since winning nine straight from June 17-July 2, 2008. The White Sox also have won nine of 10 against the Mariners in Chicago. Going back further, the White Sox are 24-7 at home against Seattle since 2004.
Now, the Mariners will try to end the streak on Tuesday night against Gavin Floyd, arguably the hottest pitcher in the American League over the last two months.
Floyd’s name is usually not at the top of the list when talking about dominant pitchers. The right-hander is overshadowed on his own club by Mark Buehrle, and lately John Danks, who earned his 11th victory on Monday night with eight innings of six-hit ball.
Floyd’s overall numbers this season won’t overwhelm anyone. He is only 5-8 with a 3.87 ERA, but the hurler has been the best pitcher in the American League since June 8.
Floyd has a 1.16 ERA, the lowest in the American League and second-lowest in the majors behind Florida Marlins ace Josh Johnson (0.94) in that span. He has allowed one or zero runs in eight of his last nine starts. He allowed two runs in the other start.
In a start against the Mariners last week, Floyd threw seven scoreless innings but settled for a no-decision.
On paper, the Mariners (39-61) seem to have no advantages heading into Tuesday's game against the White Sox.
In addition to Floyd’s recent dominance, the Mariners will send their worst starting pitcher to the mound.
Left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-9, 6.27 ERA) has lost four consecutive games and the Mariners are just 3-15 in his 18 starts this season.
He has been fortunate to get no-decisions in his last two starts or he would have the most losses in the American League. In his last three starts, he has allowed 14 runs in 13 1/3 innings.
Manager Don Wakamatsu is content to stay with Rowland-Smith, however, because he sees him in the club’s long-range plans.
A few notes of hope for the Mariners? Well, Floyd is 1-4 with a 6.25 ERA against them in eight starts and Rowland-Smith is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA against the White Sox.
Seattle also could see the return of designated hitter Russell Branyan on Tuesday. Branyan has missed the past week with lower back spasms. Branyan leads the club with 13 home runs and has 34 RBIs.