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Mariners-Rangers Preview

Sep 28, 2010 - 4:42 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Seattle (59-96) at Texas (87-68), 8:05 p.m. EDT

Although he may be disappointed with the lack of run support and victories, Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez is in contention to win the AL Cy Young Award. For Texas Rangers right-hander Scott Feldman, there's no chance an individual accolade can mask a discouraging 2010.

Hernandez looks to add to his Cy Young resume Tuesday night in Arlington, where Feldman could be pitching for a spot on the AL West champs' postseason roster.

Despite pitching an AL-high 241 2-3 innings, ranking second in strikeouts with a career-high 227 and posting a league-best 2.31 ERA, Hernandez is just 12-12.

Having the league's worst run support average (3.09) hasn't helped the right-hander, who has a 5-3 record while yielding one run or fewer in eight of his last nine starts. In his last outing Thursday at Toronto, Hernandez threw eight innings of one-run ball, but was tagged by Jose Bautista's 50th homer in a 1-0 loss.

"Yeah, I've done a lot," Hernandez told the Mariners' official web site. "Just trying to help the team to win (that's it)"

Hernandez, though, is 1-3 with a 5.06 ERA in five starts against Texas (87-69) this season.

After finishing tied for fourth in the AL last season with a career-best 17 wins, Feldman (7-10, 5.45) expected to be a major contributor this year in the Rangers' push for their first playoff berth since 1999. Instead, the right-hander has been dropped from the club's opening day starter to a seldom-used reliever.

Feldman gets the rare start Tuesday so ace Cliff Lee can pitch Game 1 of the AL division series on five days' rest.

"I was expecting to be on a good team ... that part has been great. But I didn't expect to be marinating in the bullpen and not pitching," Feldman told the Rangers' official website prior to his first appearance in 13 days - two innings of relief in Thursday's 5-0 loss at Oakland.

Feldman, who has made just one start since July 24, is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in two starts versus Seattle (60-96) this season.

While the Rangers are setting their rotation and trying to field a healthy lineup when the playoffs start next week, the Mariners are trying to use this series as a springboard to 2011.

"...I'm proud of (the Rangers) for what they've accomplished this year and we've got to look forward to the future and keep playing hard and keep playing well and hopefully next year this club will be able to do that," said first baseman Justin Smoak, who was 3 for 4 with a three-run homer Monday in his first game in Arlington since he was shipped to Seattle in July as part of the Lee trade.

Ichiro Suzuki, the AL player of the week, was hitless in five at-bats in the series opener and is batting .182 in eight games in Arlington this season. He is 7 for 24 against Feldman.

Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz, who is hitting .429 with five homers and 11 RBIs against Seattle this season, is 10 for 33 with three home runs versus Hernandez.

Vladimir Guerrero, who also has three home runs against the Mariners ace, is one shy of reaching 30 for the ninth time, and first since 2006.