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Rangers-Mariners Preview

Jul 11, 2009 - 6:54 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Texas (48-37) at Seattle (44-42), 10:10 p.m. EDT

Improved pitching is the main reason the Texas Rangers are leading the AL West with two games left before the All-Star break. An impressive staff is also the biggest factor in the Seattle Mariners being in contention in the division.

Jarrod Washburn has been perhaps the biggest surprise for the Mariners this season, and the left-hander will look to follow up the best outing of his career as the clubs meet Saturday night in Seattle.

Dismal run support has cost Washburn (5-6, 3.08 ERA) several potential victories this year, but the veteran's ERA ranks sixth in the AL and is nearly a run lower than his career mark.

"I think he's pitching as good as I've ever seen him," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. "He has more command of certain pitches."

Last year, Washburn was 5-14 with a 4.69 ERA, and he has been mediocre in his career against Texas, going 8-8 with a 4.35 ERA.

He was all but unhittable Monday against Baltimore, however, throwing a one-hitter for a 5-0 victory. He completed his fourth career shutout with 110 pitches.

"I've always had a two-seam fastball but it's never sunk before," said Washburn, who worked on the pitch during spring training. "... That's what I owe it all to, that mechanical adjustment."

Washburn is part of a Seattle staff that has an AL-leading 3.77 ERA. Even after Friday's 6-4 loss, their sixth in seven meetings with Texas this year, the Mariners (44-42) are within 4 1/2 games of the Rangers.

Texas (48-37) allowed the most runs in baseball last year, but its 4.33 ERA in 2009 is more than a run lower than last season's number.

Scott Feldman pitched 6 2-3 innings Friday as the Rangers won for the eighth time in 10 games to move back in front of Los Angeles by a half-game.

Kevin Millwood (8-6, 3.34) has been the steadiest member of the rotation, but he'll be trying to recover from his worst start of the year. He gave up a career high-tying nine runs in five innings of a 9-4 loss to the Angels on Monday.

The Mariners have handled Millwood lately. He won 6-5 at Safeco Field on May 4, but allowed five runs and two home runs in 7 1-3 innings and is 1-5 with a 6.08 ERA in his last six starts against Seattle.

Ichiro Suzuki is batting .419 (26 for 62) versus Millwood.

Michael Young has been perhaps Seattle's best hitter against Washburn, going 20 for 60 with eight extra-base hits and three home runs. His three-run shot Friday was one of three homers for Texas, which leads the majors with 130.

"We try to make sure regardless of who we are facing, our approach is dictated by the situation of the game and what the scoreboard tells us to do," Young said. "It's a case-by-case basis."