The Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers meet Saturday in MLB action from Globe Life Field. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. In Friday’s opener, the Rangers managed a shutout victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Seattle Mariners

The Mariners took on the Yankees this week and staved off the sweep with a Wednesday victory 1-0. On Friday versus Texas, Seattle could only muster three hits in a 2-0 shutout loss. Starter Luis Castillo lasted 7.0 innings with one earned on five hits and a walk.

For the starter job on Saturday it’ll be the Mariners’ Marco Gonzales. In his 10 starts this year Gonzales is 4-1 with a 5.22 ERA and 34 Ks in 50.0 innings. Gonzales is 65-49 with a 4.14 ERA in 163 career games (155 starts).

Texas Rangers

Over on the Rangers’ side, they managed to win two of three from the Tigers this week. On Friday Texas had seven team hits in the victory and didn’t score until the sixth inning. Jon Gray put up 7.0 clean frames in the start with two hits, one walk and five Ks.

Andrew Heaney will take the mound for the start on Saturday. Over 10 starts this year Heaney is 4-3 with a 3.76 ERA and 55 Ks in 55.0 innings. Heaney is 40-45 with a 4.50 ERA in 147 career games (136 starts).

The Mariners are 4-0 in their last four Saturday games and 37-16 in their last 53 in game two of a series. The under is 10-4 in Seattle’s last 14 versus a lefty starter.

Meanwhile, the Rangers are 5-0 in their last five in game two of a series and 5-1 in their last six versus a lefty starter. Texas is 9-3 in their last 12 overall.

ANDREW’S FREE PICK

I’ll stick with the Rangers in this one. Heaney has pitched quite well lately, giving up just two earned runs in 19.0 innings on 14 hits and five walks over his last three starts. Heaney is 2-0 in that time. As for Gonzales, he’s doing well also with three earned on eight hits and four walks in his last 11.2 innings. In the Friday game Texas had a stellar pitching performance between Gray, Grant Anderson and Will Smith (three hits, one walk and seven Ks combined). The offense will need to come around a little better, but overall I think Texas will be fine.