The set-up: The Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners open a four-game series Monday afternoon in Seattle but it comes on the heels of the Rangers sweeping all three games last week at Arlington. Any sliver of hope Seattle carried into last week's series, in terms of the AL West race, was put to bed by the time the Rangers rolled 14-1 over the Mariners last Wednesday afternoon. Texas's three-game sweep improved its season mark vs. Seattle to 11-4 and the 82-55 Rangers lead the 69-67 Mariners by 12 1/2 games in the AL West, plus Seattle's wild card hopes (five games back with plenty of teams ahead of them) are all but vanquished as well.

The pitching matchup: Cole Hamels (14-4, 2.91 ERA) vs. Felix Hernandez (9-5, 3.48 ERA) is a battle of aces but both pitched poorly in last week's series in Texas. Hamels lasted only 4 1/3 innings, while giving up six ERs on seven hits while walking four in a no-decision against the Mariners (Texas won 8-7). As for "King Felix," he matched his shortest start of the season at Texas last Wednesday, giving up six ERs on four hits and four walks over just four innings in that 14-1 loss. Hernadez has not pitched like a ‘king' against Texas in his career, going 17-23 (3.85 ERA) over 49 career starts (Seattle is 20-29). Meanwhile, in way fewer starts against Seattle, Hamels is 5-2 with a 4.13 ERA (teams are 7-2).

The pick: Last week's sweep at Texas knocked Seattle out of any kind of pennant contention in the AL West and likely dealt its wild card hopes a ‘death blow' as well but I look for Hernandez to be "on his game," after last Wednesday's embarrassment. After all, he entered that contest 4-0 with a 2.43 ERA in his previous five starts (Seattle was 5-0!). Hernadez retuns to 'king' status in this one. Seattle is a 10* play.