Seattle Mariners (2-1) at Texas Rangers (3-0)
Probable Starting Pitchers: Seattle - Erik Bedard (0-0), Texas - Derek Holland (0-0)
The defending American League champion Texas Rangers could not have asked for a better start to the 2011 season. Texas played host to the revamped Boston Red Sox to open the season and swept Boston in convincing fashion. The Rangers now play host to one of their division rivals - the Seattle Mariners.
Derek Holland will make his first start of the season for Texas tonight. Holland appeared in 14 games for Texas last year, starting four of them, and posted a 4.08 ERA and 1.38 WHIP while striking out 54 in 57.1 innings. The 24 year old lefty scuffled a bit in the spring this year, allowing 30 hits in 18.1 innings for the Rangers.
Holland will hope to be backed by a Texas offense who obliterated the Red Sox top three starters in Jon Lester, John Lackey and Clay Buchholz. The Rangers scored 26 runs in the three game set, belting 11 home runs in the process. Ian Kinsler hit leadoff home runs on back-to-back days and has three on the young year. Nelson Cruz also has three home runs so far.
Texas will be facing oft-injured lefty Erik Bedard of the Mariners. Bedard is making his first start of the year for Seattle, who won two of their first three games against the Oakland A's.
First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. EST, 7:05 p.m. local.