It will be a rematch of right-handers from earlier in the season when the Seattle Mariners clash with the Texas Rangers on Saturday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.
The Mariners will send Bryan Woo (7-4, 3.12 ERA) to the mound to start the second contest of the three-game series against Kumar Rocker (3-4, 6.68) of the Rangers. The two pitchers squared off in Seattle on April 12, with Woo coming out with the win.
Seattle recorded a 7-6 victory in 12 innings on Friday in the series opener.
Woo has won his past two starts, allowing just two runs on seven hits and three walks over 13 combined innings in victories at home against the Boston Red Sox and on the road versus the Minnesota Twins. He has struck out 15 batters in those two games, including a career high-tying nine in the 11-2 victory over the Twins on Monday.
The wins were welcome after Woo went 0-3 in his previous four starts.
Woo has pitched at least six innings in all 15 of his starts this season.
“It means a lot,” Woo said. “I think for no matter if I’m pitching well or not, you always want to go deep. For me, (that run of six inning starts) is a combination of a bunch of things. It means that I’m being efficient with my pitches, I’m getting ahead in the counts, getting some quicker outs so that I can go deeper.”
Woo is 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA in six career starts against Texas. He has allowed 17 runs on 28 hits and eight walks in 28 1/3 innings while striking out 34.
Both of his career wins against Texas came earlier this year. He permitted one run on six hits at home over six innings on April 12 and one hit over 6 1/3 scoreless innings in Seattle on May 2.
If the Rangers are going to get to Woo, they will have to do so without outfielder Wyatt Langford.
Langford was put on the injured list on Friday with a strained left oblique, with the move retroactive to Wednesday.
Rocker has shown a new attitude as he has won both off his starts after being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on June 15 to take the place of Tyler Mahle in the Rangers rotation. Rocker has allowed two runs on nine hits in 10 1/3 innings over those two appearances while walking four and striking out 10.
“It shows you about his makeup,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said about Rocker. “He knows he has to get better and he did. You see how much that’s improved since he’s been back.”
Rocker is 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA in two career starts against the Mariners. He’s allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in those appearances, includes four runs (three earned) in 3 1/3 innings a loss in Seattle on April 12.
–Field Level Media
