The Padres are set to play the first game of a two game series at Safeco Field. Or is it a four game series split between two locations? At any rate, they're playing their next four games against the hated Mariners, two up north and then two back at home.
Clayton Richard will be making his first start for the Padres since returning from the disabled list following what was reported as an intestinal virus. He was atrocious leading up to his time off, going 0-4 with an 8.54 ERA. In 26 innings spread over six starts Richard has given up 17 walks and seven homers while only striking out 13 batters. He fared better in his two rehab starts with Tucson, where he allowed only three earned runs on ten hits over 12 innings of work, walking nobody and striking out a batter an inning.
A familiar face will be taking the hill for the Mariners. Former Aztec and Padre Aaron Harang has been just about as terrible as Richard this season. Since coming over in a trade from Colorado on April 11, five days after being traded from the Dodgers, Harang has gone 1-5 with an ERA of 8.58. He has allowed eight home runs in just 39 innings, over double his career rate.
Both teams have been scuffling of late, with the Padres losing four of their last five and the Mariners losing eight of their last nine. Hopefully the Padres can reverse their recent trend and send the Mariners deeper into the abyss, starting with the first game of the unnamed season series.