Series Preview: Tampa Bay Rays at Seattle Mariners

The Rays west coast trip continues as the team heads to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Seattle Mariners for a three game series. The Mariners enter the series winners of seven of their last ten. They have struggled at home (5-7) and been dominant on the road (13-6).

The Mariners come into this game with the third best offense in the AL at .242/.317/.421, .318 wOBA, 108 wRC+.

These are two very similar teams that have opposite offensive weaknesses. The Mariners have a better offense against RHP and the Rays perform better against LHP. The Mariners have performed better offensively, but the Rays' starting rotation has outpitched the Mariners'.

Matchups:

Monday: Matt Moore vs Felix Hernandez

Tuesday: Drew Smyly vs Wade Miley

Wednesday: Chris Archer vs Taijuan Walker

Is Felix still King?

King Felix has started the year with a serious decline in velocity. His results have still been vintage Felix as he's posted a 2.21 ERA, but with a decreasing 18.5% K-rate and increasing 11.5% BB-rate. His 4.31 FIP suggests that he won't continue to produce at this level without improvement.  Let's home tonight is the night that those weak peripherals catch up with him.

Wade Miley will be challenged by the buzz saw that is the Rays offense against left handed pitchers. The Rays are tied with the Astros in offense against LHP in the American League with a .257/.320/.452, .335 wOBA, 121 wRC+ line.

Taijuan Walker is in the process of having a breakout season and is probably the best pitcher in the Mariners starting rotation. Walker has posted a 1.97 ERA (2.95 FIP) led by a 22.1% K-rate and 2.3% BB-rate. He's had problems with the long ball as he's had a 19.8% HR/FB rate.

Mariners Starting Pitchers Last 3+ Years vs Right Handed Batters:

Player	IP	K%	BB%	HR%	AVE	OBP	SLG	wOBA	ERA	FIP
Felix Hernandez	309.1	27.7%	5.3%	15.2%	0.220	0.270	0.348	0.274	2.91	2.98
Wade Miley	496.2	18.9%	8.5%	11.6%	0.265	0.331	0.419	0.329	4.17	4.02
Taijuan Walker	111.0	22.5%	4.7%	11.8%	0.245	0.297	0.398	0.303	4.38	3.83

Felix Hernandez has been hard on right handed batters this year, allowing only a .172/.277/.298, .264 wOBA.

Wade Miley is finally in a good pitching environment spending his career in Arizona and Boston. He's been getting crushed by right handers this year to a .298/.339/.447, .343 wOBA line. The Rays will present a tough matchup for him.

Taijuan Walker has allowed a .328/.344/.450, .345 wOBA to right handed batters, but has struck out 30.6% of those faced.

Mariners Starting Pitchers Last 3+ Years vs Left Handed Batters:

Player	IP	K%	BB%	HR%	AVE	OBP	SLG	wOBA	ERA	FIP
Felix Hernandez	369.1	23.1%	6.9%	9.0%	0.224	0.283	0.339	0.276	2.75	3.02
Wade Miley	139.0	18.2%	5.7%	13.0%	0.255	0.311	0.391	0.310	4.08	3.60
Taijuan Walker	143.2	21.5%	7.3%	11.1%	0.236	0.300	0.378	0.297	3.51	3.71

Historically Hernandez has been tough on batters from both sides, but left handed batters have gotten to him a bit more this year, with a .225/.319/.313, .288 wOBA line.

Miley has been hit by left handers throughout his career, but his peripherals would suggest he should be better against same handed batters.

Taijuan Walker has been dominant to start the season when facing lefties as he's allowed only a .154/.203/.266, .209 wOBA against.

Former Rays fill out the bullpen.

Joaquin Benoit is currently on the disabled list, but the Rays may well face former teamates Joel Peralta and Mike Montgomery in relief.

The Mariners bullpen has been a stabilizing force them this year as they have pitched 93.2 innings of 2.50 ERA baseball.

Mariners Relievers vs Right Handed Batters:

Player	IP	K%	BB%	HR%	AVE	OBP	SLG	wOBA	ERA	FIP
Steve Cishek	106.1	24.1%	6.6%	5.9%	0.222	0.281	0.315	0.263	2.71	2.62
Joel Peralta	77.0	24.4%	7.5%	13.5%	0.236	0.297	0.451	0.325	5.26	4.54
Vidal Nuno	208.0	18.1%	6.1%	13.4%	0.266	0.318	0.473	0.342	4.50	4.72
Nick Vincent	86.1	32.6%	3.2%	2.4%	0.173	0.208	0.241	0.200	2.08	1.45
Mike Montgomery	76.2	15.5%	9.1%	12.7%	0.242	0.319	0.385	0.309	3.52	4.61
Mayckol Guaipe	22.1	20.0%	6.7%	15.4%	0.259	0.337	0.380	0.317	4.84	3.89
Steve Johnson	13.0	12.3%	12.3%	17.4%	0.240	0.333	0.580	0.388	6.23	7.61

Steve Cishek, closer, and Nick Vincent are the two pitchers right handed batters won't look forward to facing.

Mariners Relievers vs Left Handed Batters:

Player	IP	K%	BB%	HR%	AVE	OBP	SLG	wOBA	ERA	FIP
Steve Cishek	100.0	27.7%	10.6%	7.9%	0.226	0.313	0.352	0.291	2.97	3.05
Joel Peralta	99.1	27.2%	8.9%	7.3%	0.196	0.270	0.312	0.262	2.81	3.17
Vidal Nuno	72.1	24.0%	6.9%	7.5%	0.201	0.269	0.332	0.267	2.74	3.47
Nick Vincent	51.0	20.4%	10.2%	12.8%	0.275	0.359	0.434	0.345	3.71	4.29
Mike Montgomery	29.2	19.4%	10.1%	8.7%	0.272	0.357	0.407	0.337	6.37	3.83
Mayckol Guaipe	10.0	13.3%	16.7%	16.7%	0.420	0.517	0.694	0.504	7.20	8.42
Steve Johnson	11.1	34.5%	22.4%	10.0%	0.244	0.414	0.400	0.364	8.74	4.13

Cishek is joined by Joel Peralta and Vidal Nuno as above average options against left handed batters. Peralta is their top pitcher against left handed batters.

They might not have many elite options, but they have a lot of pretty solid options.  Given the success of their starters, however, getting into their bullpen will be a good thing.

Robinson Cano has carried the offense.

The Mariners possess a top 5 AL offense against RHP this season as they have hit .247/.323/.408, .321 wOBA, 111 wRC+ against them. They have been a tick above average against LHP at .232/.299/.410, .310 wOBA, 102 wRC+. This led to the Rays decision to move Matt Moore's start to tonight and give Matt Andriese a better matchup against the Angels.

Robinson Cano (.305/.355/.633, .419 wOBA, 182 wRC+) has been the driving force of the Mariners offense led by his 12 homers. He's been scorching the past week with a .516/.516/1.000, .645 wOBA, 347 wRC+ with four homers.

Kyle Seager (.233/.305/.509, .348 wOBA, 130 wRC+), Nelson Cruz (.268/.371/.455, .363 wOBA, 141 wRC+), and Seth Smith (.250/.360/.417, .344 wOBA, 128 wrC+) have also been impressive.

The two left handed starters should look to neutralize three of the four impact bats.  For example, Cano's OPS is about 520 points higher against righties than against lefties.  Only Cruz is a greater threat against lefties; he'll be the one Moore and Smiley have to work around.

Mariners Batters vs Right Handed Pitchers:

Player	PA	HR	SB	BB%	K%	AVE	OBP	SLG	wOBA	wRC+
Robinson Cano	2158	74	19	8.2%	12.8%	0.305	0.366	0.482	0.364	135
Nelson Cruz	1921	116	12	8.5%	22.8%	0.280	0.347	0.530	0.376	141
Kyle Seager	2163	80	22	8.5%	16.6%	0.263	0.332	0.448	0.340	120
Adam Lind	1500	50	1	9.9%	18.3%	0.286	0.356	0.465	0.355	124
Ketel Marte	367	2	11	7.6%	18.0%	0.280	0.335	0.380	0.314	102
Franklin Gutierrez	385	25	3	6.5%	29.4%	0.266	0.320	0.535	0.365	137
Norichika Aoki	1747	14	53	8.1%	7.6%	0.282	0.350	0.364	0.320	103
Seth Smith	1483	36	1	11.4%	20.2%	0.256	0.345	0.426	0.337	118
Leonys Martin	1512	25	86	6.1%	21.3%	0.252	0.304	0.361	0.294	80
Luis Sardinas	254	1	6	4.3%	20.9%	0.226	0.268	0.272	0.242	45
Dae-Ho Lee	42	4	0	4.8%	16.7%	0.256	0.310	0.564	0.365	143
Steve Clevenger	257	3	0	6.2%	17.1%	0.245	0.292	0.361	0.285	77
Chris Iannetta	1178	30	3	14.9%	25.4%	0.223	0.344	0.365	0.319	107

The Mariners have brought in a plethora of left handed bats to surround Nelson Cruz. Their goal was to improve outfield defense with the signing of Nori Aoki and trade for Leonys Martin. In another offseason trade they acquired Adam Lind to replace Logan Morrison.

As expected, as a righty-dominated line up their strength is against right handed pitchers. Chris Archer has the talent to silence any lineup, but might have to lean on his much improved change up in this series.

Mariners Batters vs Left Handed Pitchers:

Player	PA	HR	SB	BB%	K%	AVE	OBP	SLG	wOBA	wRC+
Robinson Cano	806	21	5	7.2%	14.6%	0.280	0.335	0.411	0.324	108
Nelson Cruz	513	31	2	12.1%	18.9%	0.320	0.404	0.593	0.421	173
Kyle Seager	777	30	77	4.8%	19.6%	0.252	0.295	0.428	0.315	103
Adam Lind	261	4	0	6.1%	27.2%	0.200	0.249	0.294	0.243	46
Ketel Marte	153	1	3	7.2%	19.6%	0.245	0.303	0.367	0.294	88
Franklin Gutierrez	204	11	0	6.9%	26.0%	0.283	0.333	0.519	0.365	137
Norichika Aoki	489	1	16	6.7%	8.4%	0.332	0.386	0.386	0.346	121
Seth Smith	214	3	0	11.2%	24.8%	0.223	0.315	0.324	0.289	83
Leonys Martin	429	6	17	4.0%	24.2%	0.228	0.271	0.294	0.254	51
Luis Sardinas	61	1	1	1.6%	18.0%	0.259	0.283	0.397	0.297	83
Dae-Ho Lee	25	2	0	4.0%	20.0%	0.217	0.280	0.478	0.328	116
Steve Clevenger	19	0	0	0.0%	5.3%	0.263	0.263	0.316	0.253	55
Chris Iannetta	420	16	0	16.4%	19.5%	0.270	0.390	0.463	0.373	144

Outside of Nelson Cruz there isn't really a significant threat against left handed pitchers. Franklin Gutierrez and Nori Aoki have put up good results in limited plate appearances.

Will the Rays tack on to their four game winning streak?

The Rays have the tough task of facing King Felix tonight. Even with his diminished velocity he has found a way to put up results.

If the Rays pitchers avoid mistakes to the middle of the lineup (Cano, Cruz, and Seager) they should continue to have the opportunity to win games.

The Rays look to make it five straight victories tonight in what should be an exciting installment of "Late Night with The Rays."