Sunday, April 27, 4:10 PM on FSSW, ROOT

Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington

Texas Rangers - Harrison, M (0-0) vs. Seattle Mariners - Maurer, B (0-0)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Sunday afternoon, Matt Harrison will take the hill for the Texas Rangers as they face Brandon Maurer and the Seattle Mariners.  Harrison will be making his 1st start of the season as Maurer makes his 2nd. 

Matt Harrison will make his first trip to the mound in over a year after back and shoulder injuries kept him out of baseball.   In his rehab assignments and bullpen sessions, he has looked good enough to earn a start.  Harrison only made 2 starts in 2013 and he lost both of them as he compiled an ERA of 3.29.  

With the long layoff, Harrison will have to think hard about the last times he faced the hitters in the Seattle lineup.  He will have to watch Seattle’s Justin Smoak.  Smoak is 6 of 21 with a homer and 2 RBIs against Harrison.

Brandon Maurer pitched to a no decision in his first start of the season.  It was a short outing that only lasted 4.1 innings but he only allowed a run on2 hits with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts.   In his rookie season in 2013, Maurer started 14 games and made 8 relief appearances, compiling a 5 - 8 record and a 6.30 ERA. 

Last year, Maurer went 1 – 1 with an ERA of 3.78 in 2 starts and a relief appearance against the Rangers.  Maurer will need to use caution against Texas’ Mitch Moreland.  Moreland is 2 of 5 with a home run and 2 RBIs against the young right-hander.      

Texas Rangers Betting Trends

Texas Rangers are 10-11-1 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Texas Rangers is 0

Seattle Mariners Betting Trends

Seattle Mariners are 9-11-1 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Seattle Mariners is -0.3

Injuries to Watch

Texas Rangers

04/24/14 LF Shin-Soo Choo Ankle missed last game, questionable
04/23/14 P Pedro Figueroa Elbow 15-day DL (4/23)
04/19/14 LF James Adduci Finger 15-day DL (4/19)
04/18/14 P Tanner Scheppers Elbow 15-day DL (4/18)
04/08/14 P Joe Saunders Ankle 15-day DL (4/5)
03/31/14 C Geovany Soto Knee 60-day DL (3/30)
03/31/14 2B Jurickson Profar Shoulder 60-day DL (3/23)
03/31/14 P Matt Harrison Back 15-day DL (3/29); expected to be activated & start Sunday vs Seattle Mariners
03/28/14 P Derek Holland Knee 60-day DL (3/3)
03/28/14 RF Engel Beltre Leg 60-day DL (3/26)
03/28/14 P Joe Ortiz Foot 60-day DL (2/14)

Seattle Mariners

04/16/14 P Blake Beavan Shoulder 15-day DL (4/15)
04/16/14 1B Logan Morrison Hamstring 15-day DL (4/14)
04/09/14 P James Paxton Back 15-day DL (4/8)
03/30/14 P Hisashi Iwakuma Finger 15-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 P Stephen Pryor Shoulder 15-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 P Taijuan Walker Shoulder 15-day DL (3/21)
03/28/14 CF Franklin Gutierrez Hamstring out indefinitely

Josh's Pick: Take Seattle

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