The Seattle Mariners continue to dominate the American League West as the Atlanta Braves proved to be no challenge in their first game of the series. Robinson Cano and John Buck got their bats swinging in the first of four games in Atlanta and the Mariners are hoping the success can continue as they send pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma to the mound.
The right-hander is trying to avoid three straight losses as Seattle will try to win a fifth straight game. Iwakuma is 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA. His start to the season was strong allowing just six runs and 20 hits in just over 30 innings. However after missing a month of the season he has returned to allow nine runs and 17 hits in two games. Most recently against Detroit, Iwakuma gave up five runs in six innings in the loss.
Seattle is really getting their offense going which could be hard for the Braves to defend. The team has totaled 17 runs in their last two games, after averaging just 3.5 in their previous eight matchups. Cano is now batting .429 while in the midst of a 13-game road hit streak. Buck is hitting .273 with four home runs in his last 13 games against the Braves specifically.
Atlanta's starting pitching has taken a dip recently. Starters have put together a 6.19 ERA in a three-game slide. Mike Minor will try and change that after giving up six runs and 11 hits to St. Louis. He is 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA in his last four starts. He gave up just one run to the Boston Red Sox over seven innings but did not factor into the decision. Buck and Cano might be hitting well right now, but they have not against the Minor. Buck has one hit in 14 at-bats against the pitcher while Cano is 0 for 5.
