Seattle @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 4, 2013 ) Seattle 4, Texas 5

The Texas Rangers are not even halfway through a 24-game stretch against teams under .500 as they try to build breathing room in the American League West. The Rangers, who have won 14 of their last 16 contests, look to continue taking advantage when they host the Seattle Mariners on Friday in the opener of a three-game series. Adrian Beltre is batting .426 with 15 RBIs in his last 16 games for Texas, which leads Oakland by 1 1/2 games in the West.

The Mariners won two of three on their last visit to Texas in early July but have dropped 12 of 18 overall after losing the last two at Tampa Bay. Seattle’s Kyle Seager is hitting .418 with 10 doubles, two homers and eight RBIs in 13 games against the Rangers this season. Texas, which is 8-1 in its last nine games, plays the Mariners (55-65) six times over its next 12 contests.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), KTXA (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Hisashi Iwakuma (10-6, 3.02 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Derek Holland (9-6, 3.07)

Iwakuma gave up six runs – all in the seventh inning – to lose his last start after surrendering two or fewer in each of his previous four outings. The 32-year-old from Japan, who has yielded 136 hits (22 homers) over 164 innings, also tweaked his back last Saturday. Ian Kinsler is 6-for-15 with three homers against Iwakuma, who is 2-3 with a 4.17 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) versus Texas.

Holland is only 1-2 in his last five starts but allowed only 12 earned runs in 35 1/3 innings. He has been comfortable against Seattle, boasting an 8-2 career record and 3.36 ERA - including 1-0 in two starts this season with a 1.42 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 12 2/3 frames. Seager is 6-for-17 with a homer against Holland, who has struck out 151 and issued 46 walks over 161 innings in 2013.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas OF Alex Rios is 6-for-19 with a pair of RBIs in five games since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox.

2. Seattle 1B Justin Smoak is batting .305 with eight homers in 47 career games against Texas.

3. Rangers RHP Joe Nathan has 36 saves, one shy of last year’s total and 11 short of his career high with Minnesota in 2009.

PREDICTION: Mariners 4, Rangers 3