Miley set for Safeco debut, duel with Holland

Wade Miley has never pitched at Safeco Field. Derek Holland can testify that it is not a bad place to pitch, even if it has been a few years since he won here.

Miley, who was acquired in a trade from the Red Sox in the offseason, will make his first start at home with the Mariners when he faces Holland and the Rangers on Tuesday night.

Miley spent one season with the Red Sox and four prior to that with the D-backs. He made two career starts against the Mariners but never in Seattle.

"This is a beautiful place, a beautiful setting," Miley said. "And it's big. It seems like some balls hit the last three days, I was kind of shocked they didn't get out of here. I thought, 'Wow man, it'd be nice to make a mistake and somebody crushes one and it gets caught on the track somewhere.' Just keep it away from the lines, I guess, and keep them in the middle of the field."

Holland is 10-4 with a 3.59 ERA in 17 career starts and four relief appearances against the Mariners, who he has more wins against than any other opponent. He is 3-1 with a 2.29 ERA in five starts and two relief appearances at Safeco Field. But his last win here was on Aug. 27, 2013.

"It's a great place to play," Holland said. "It's pitcher-friendly. It's also cold, so you can get away with a little more pitching inside. Hitters don't like it when it stings. But I don't think too much about the ballpark. I've got to make my pitches. I can't worry about the ballpark."

Three things to know about this game

• Robinson Cano is 15-for-37 against Holland for a .405 batting average. He also has a .436 on-base percentage and a .703 slugging percentage. He is one of two left-handed hitters with two home runs off Holland in his career. The other is Hideki Matsui.

• Rangers fourth outfielder Ryan Rua is expected to be back in the lineup on Tuesday. It will be his third straight start. Nomar Mazara, who hits left-handed, is also expected to be in the lineup for the Rangers even with a lefty on the mound.

• First baseman Dao-Ho Lee and outfielder Franklin Gutierrez, both right-handed hitters, will likely be in the Mariners lineup with a left-hander on the mound for the Rangers.