Texas @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2018 ) Texas 6, Seattle 12

Robinson Cano stroked a season-high four hits on Friday and is in line to finish with a batting average of .300 or better for the ninth time in his career. Cano looks to improve his .304 mark when the Seattle Mariners host the Texas Rangers on Saturday for the third contest of their four-game series.

Cano was batting .296 before his stellar outing on Friday in which he plated two runs to help Seattle register a 12-6 victory. Cameron Maybin collected a career high-tying four RBIs while slugger Nelson Cruz contributed a run-scoring double for his 97th RBI as he attempts to reach 100 for the fourth time in the majors. Texas veteran Adrian Beltre notched two RBIs on Friday to boost his career total to 1,706, snapping a tie with Hall-of-Famer Frank Thomas on the all-time list. Elvis Andrus recorded his second three-hit performance of the month but is batting just .213 in September.

TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Adrian Sampson (0-2, 4.96 ERA) vs. Mariners LH James Paxton (11-6, 3.85)

Sampson is making his fifth appearance (fourth start) with Texas and has served up six homers in just 16 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old, who is from the Seattle area, is pitching at Safeco Field for the first time despite receiving one opportunity to perform on the road as a member of the Mariners in 2016. "I'm excited about it," Sampson told reporters. "I just need to take care of business. When I get out there, I just need to put blinders on, but that's how I have been pitching lately, with tunnel vision."

Paxton is making his second start since missing two-plus weeks due to pneumonia. The 29-year-old is one strikeout away from becoming the sixth pitcher in franchise history to reach the 200 plateau. Paxton is 2-4 with a 4.98 ERA in 13 career starts against the Rangers and has a 7.00 ERA in two no-decisions this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers C Robinson Chirinos hit a two-run homer on Friday for his first blast since Sept. 2.

2. Seattle SS Jean Segura departed Friday's game after the second inning - manager Scott Servais said he was pulled because he didn't like his effort running the bases - while 2B-CF Dee Gordon (foot) missed his third straight contest.

3. Texas purchased the contract of LHP Brandon Mann, who lives in Seattle, from Triple-A Round Rock in order to have another arm for the season-ending weekend.

PREDICTION: Mariners 7, Rangers 5