Series preview: at Seattle Mariners
When (TV): 10:10 p.m. Tuesday (SPSO), 3:40 p.m. Wednesday (SPSO)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers:
Tuesday: Braves LH Alex Wood (7-8, 3.30) vs. RH Felix Hernandez (11-3, 2.01)
Wednesday: Braves RH Julio Teheran (10-7, 2.69 ERA) vs. RH Chris Young (9-6, 3.19 ERA)
About the Braves:
Batting: The Braves have been held to two or fewer runs four times during their six-game losing streak. They have scored two runs or fewer 24 times in the past 76 games since May 12, going 1-23 in those games. The Braves are batting .169 (10-for-59) with runners in scoring position during this losing streak that spans the six games of this west coast trip. Jason Heyward is 5-for-9 with two doubles, a triple and three runs scored in his first two games back after missing the better part of six games with a sore back.
Pitching: Wood gave up only one run in seven innings of his last start against the Dodgers but the Braves lost 3-2 in 10 innings. The Braves have lost four of Wood's past five starts in the month of July, despite his 3.56 ERA in that time with nine walks and 28 strikeouts. He pitched two innings in relief against the Mariners on June 3 and gave up a two-run homer to John Buck. The Braves walked 20 batters while striking out 20 during their three losses over the weekend in San Diego.
Miscellaneous: This is a homecoming for Ryan Doumit, who is from Moses Lake, WA. The Braves got swept by the Mariners at Turner Field June 3 and 4 and are 4-8 in interleague play this season. This is the Braves' first trip to Safeco Field since 2011 when they swept three games on June 27-29 to make them 4-2 all-time there.
About the Mariners:
Batting: Robinson Cano is second in the AL with a .330 batting average and third in hits with 136. He is hitting .375 (30-for-80) over his past 20 games. He went 4-for-10 with a double and a run scored in the two-game series against the Braves at Turner Field in June. Kyle Seager is hitting .345 (67-for-194) with 13 home runs in 55 games at Safeco Field this season, compared to only .211 with three home runs in 54 games on the road. Dustin Ackley is hitting .379 (25-for-66) since the All-Star break.
Pitching: Hernandez is on a major league-record run with 14 straight starts in which he has allowed two or fewer runs while pitching at least seven innings. He broke Tom Seaver's record of 13 in 1971 his last time out against Cleveland. The Braves won their only matchup against "King Felix" on June 29, 2011, piling up 10 hits and five runs in 7 2/3 innings of a 5-3 win with Derek Lowe on the mound. Seattle leads the majors with a 3.05 ERA, including a majors' best 2.37 ERA by its bullpen.
Miscellaneous: The Mariners are 28-21 against teams with a .500 record or better and 29-33 against teams with a losing record. Former Braves infielder Chris Woodward (2007) is now an infield coach for the Mariners.
- Carroll Rogers
