MLB Game Preview - Seattle at Texas
Wed Jul 31, 2019 8:05 PM EDT

ATL
5
WSH
4
F(10)
PIT
1
CIN
4
F
ARI
5
NYY
7
F
TOR
4
KC
1
F
LAD
5
COL
1
F
DET
9
LAA
1
F
SF
5
PHI
1
F
MIN
7
MIA
4
F
TB
8
BOS
5
F
HOU
4
CLE
10
F
SEA
7
TEX
9
F
NYM
4
CHW
2
F
CHC
2
STL
0
F
MIL
4
OAK
2
F
Facing M's, Rangers turn to Minor ... for now
Wed Jul 31, 2019 4:53 AM

Mike Minor is scheduled to start for the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night in Arlington, Texas.

If, that is, he's still a member of the team.

The Rangers opted not to start Minor on regular rest Tuesday in an 8-5 loss to the Seattle Mariners, in part because he had said the trade talk had become a distraction. The major league trade deadline is 4 p.m. ET Wednesday.

"It could happen, it could not," Minor told MLB.com of potentially being traded. "I don't know. Really don't."

The left-hander is 8-6 with a 3.00 ERA this season, though he's 0-2 with a 6.04 ERA over his past four starts.

Minor has a partial no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he can block a deal to 10 teams.

He said he might waive that clause, but it depends on the situation.

"I have that right, that's why it's in there. Sometimes players get bashed for it," Minor told MLB.com. "Fans or media might say something about it, but I played long enough, I have the right to exercise it if it comes up. If it's not a good fit for me or my family, yeah."

The New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves (the team Minor started his career with) reportedly have shown interest in the 31-year-old.

"I'm not convinced, but I'm ready if it does happen," Minor told MLB.com. "We have been talking about it forever so it wouldn't be surprising to me. It wouldn't blindside me."

Minor is 3-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 11 career appearances against Seattle, including eight starts. He's 2-1 versus the Mariners this season, the loss coming last Wednesday on the road when he allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits in six innings in a 5-3 defeat. He walked one and struck out five.

The Mariners, who have a six-game winning streak to match their season-high, plan to use a reliever as an opener in the series finale before turning over the ball to left-hander Wade LeBlanc (6-3, 4.79 ERA). He's 2-1 with a 4.34 ERA in six career games against the Rangers with five starts. He got a no-decision against them May 29 in Seattle, allowing three runs on six hits in five innings, with no walks and five strikeouts.

Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager, who until recently was struggling to get his batting average above .200, went 3-for-5 with a triple, home run and four RBIs in Tuesday's victory.

Seager's solo shot in the second inning, his ninth, bounced off the heel of Rangers center fielder Delino DeShields' glove and over the fence as DeShields made a leaping attempt at a catch.

"It ended up working out," Seager said. "I saw him go up and I thought it hit his glove, but I couldn't see any more than that. I was just looking at the umpire, seeing if he'd give me good news."

Seager added a tiebreaking, two-run triple in the seventh inning. He had a chance to hit for the cycle in the ninth, but he flied out.

"It's not usually something that I have to think about too much," Seager told MLB.com of hitting for the cycle. "It was a new experience for me (Tuesday) to be close."

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Seattle            
Texas            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

Wade LeBlanc - (N/A)
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Texas
Mike Minor - (N/A)
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Seattle

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

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