Volquez Faces King Felix In Seattle
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SEATTLE (SportsDirect Inc.) -- Felix Hernandez attempts to follow up his best outing of the season with another victory when the Seattle Mariners host the Miami Marlins for the finale of their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon.
Hernandez defeated Texas on Friday, when he allowed one run and six hits in 7 1/3 innings.
Hernandez is 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA and 0.72 WHIP in two career starts against the Marlins as Seattle looks to win the three-game set.
Hernandez's control has been impeccable early this season, as he has yet to issue a walk while striking out 15 in 18 1/3 innings.
Miami's Wei-Yin Chen, Brad Ziegler and Kyle Barraclough combined on a one-hit shutout in Tuesday's 5-0 victory, with Seattle's hit coming courtesy of Mitch Haniger with one out in the ninth inning.
Edinson Volquez - Miami's starter on Wednesday - never has lost to the Mariners, compiling a 5-0 record and 2.66 ERA in eight career appearances (seven starts).
TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Florida (Miami), ROOT (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Edinson Volquez (0-1, 3.45 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (1-1, 2.95)
Volquez is winless in three starts and has only pitched more than five innings in one of the outings. The 33-year-old issued a season-high four walks while giving up two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision against the New York Mets. In a small sample size, Volquez has experienced issues with Robinson Cano (3-for-6) and Nelson Cruz (3-for-5, two doubles).
Hernandez hasn't struck out more than six in any of his three outings and no longer punches out batters in the manner he did from 2009-14, when he fanned more than 200 in each season. He also has recorded just two complete games over the past four-plus years - both in 2015 - after recording a total of 16 between 2010-12. Hernandez fanned former teammate Ichiro Suzuki five times while limiting him to three hits in 14 at-bats.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marlins 3B Martin Prado (calf) was out of Tuesday's lineup one day after making his season debut due to a hamstring injury he suffered in March.
1. Haniger's ninth-inning double extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
2. Miami SS Adeiny Hechavarria (oblique) is progressing and could be activated prior to Friday's series opener against San Diego.
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