Seattle Mariners Double-Header Gameday Preview at Oakland

Apr 21, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher

(34) pitches to Houston Astros center fielder

(21) during the first inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Initial Thoughts:

What a showing for the Seattle Mariners last night! With the 8-3 victory over the Athletics, the M’s are 2nd in the division and a game over .500, only 2 games back of 1st place!

Today could make and define this already impressive road trip. Even just splitting the 2 games today would leave the Mariners at 17-16 heading home for the homestand. What a turnaround these M’s have orchestrated.

Game Details:

Seattle Mariners 16-15. Last 10: (8-2)

Oakland Athletics 19-14. Last 10: (4-6)

Game 1: 12:25 Pacific Time. Oakland, California.

Game 2: (to start 90 minutes after the completion of the first game). Oakland, California.

MATCHUPS

Pitching:

Game 1:

Seattle Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez (3-1, 2.53 ERA) v. Oakland Athletics RHP Dan Strailey (1-2, 5.01 ERA)

EDGE: Felix. No doubt about this one. Even with a few ‘bad’ games from the King, he still sports a 2.53 ERA and has been traditionally dominant of the A’s. Straily’s numbers are far less impressive, and the way the M’s are swinging the bat this could become a blowout in game 1.

Game 2:

Seattle Mariners RHP Erasmo Ramirez (1-3, 6.75) v. Oakland Athletics TBD.

EDGE: TBD. Whoever the A’s send out in game 2 of the double-header should have a leg over Ramirez. He started the year in the rotation then strung together a number of bad outings, getting sent deep into the minor leagues for some work. Could he pitch well? Of course he has the stuff for it. The question will be if he actually pulls it off.

Projected Lineups:

(Note: I will only project lineups for the first game; with the double-header on such a quick turn around it would be too difficult to pin down 2 lineups back-to-back).

Mariners:

Michael Saunders 9

James Jones 8

Robinson Cano 4

Justin Smoak 3

Stefen Romero DH

Kyle Seager 5

Dustin Ackley 7

Mike Zunino 2

Brad Miller 6

Of Note: Smoak cranked out 3 RBI last night. Jones was 2-5 in his 2nd game as a Mariner. Ackley had 2 hits, 2 walks, and an RBI. Up and down the lineup is contributing, in large part to the resurgence of Smoak and Seager, along with pleasant production from the young outfielders.

Athletics:

Coco Crisp 8

Jed Lowrie 6

Josh Donaldson 5

Yoenis Cespedes 7

Derek Norris DH

John Jaso 2

Craig Gentry 9

Brandon Moss 3

Nick Punto 4

Of Note: Crisp was the only Athletic with more than 1 hit in last night’s game. Derek Norris keeps hitting the snot out of the ball, and may just be playing his way out of the platoon with Jaso at catcher.

Other Notes:

The Mariners are hot, if you didn’t already know. After an 8-game losing streak sent them floundering to 4th in the division, they have since surged back and find themselves 1-game over .500, and two games out of first place in the AL West.

And yes, the M’s combined struck out 9 times last night. However, they have been walking more too recently, with 5 in last night’s game.

This team is slowly becoming aggressive AND smart at the plate, which for such a young team can skyrocket their confidence.

It feels like the first week of the season again the way these M’s are playing.

Final Predictions:

Game 1:

Felix overwhelms the A’s and Straily gets shelled by the Mariners offense.

Mariners 6, Athletics 1.

Game 2:

Pocket Rocket Erasmo Ramirez has a serviceable outing, but he only goes 5 innings and gives up 3 earned runs. The A’s ‘Pen holds serves and avoids the 4-game sweep at the hands of the ‘lowly Mariners.’

Athletics 5, Mariners 1.