The Mariners have really struggled and I'm going to piggy back that here as another solid RHP goes up against them. Jeff Niemann has been great so far this season and has a 2.57 ERA in his last three starts. He gave up only 12 hits in 18.1 IP vs. the Mariners last year and I think that continues here today as the Mariners have hit a putrid .161 scoring 1.26 runs per 9 innings in their last 5 vs. RHP .193 and 2.48 in their last 10! Garza and Shields went 8 IP in back to back nights and I expect something similar here from Niemann. The Rays are 11-1 on the road this year and will be going up against R.R. Smith who gave up 9 ER in his three starts along with 19 hits and 10 BB over 17.1 IP vs. the Rays. The Rays are too hot right now and their bullpen is just to good for the Mariners to snap out of their slump.
Looking at this match up I originally liked the Astros with Wandy Rodriguez, but given the way the Astros have hit I'm not buying in especially against one of the best pitchers in the NL. Harren in the last 2 years has a 2.66 ERA vs. the Astros over 23.2 IP giving up just 13 hits. Dbacks also have killed LH pitching and Wandy Rodriguez is not in his mid season form yet. Houston .220 while scoring just 1.54 runs per 9 in their last 10 games compared to Dbacks who are scoring 9.28 runs per 9 vs. LHP and with an average of .288. Houston's bullpen has also struggled during this time.
