Seattle @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 8, 2018 ) Seattle 7, Texas 11

The Seattle Mariners made a solid run at a playoff spot but look like they are going to fall short. The Mariners will continue playing hard and try to stave off mathematical elimination when they visit the Texas Rangers in the opener of a three-game series Friday.

Seattle is 7 1/2 games behind the Oakland Athletics in the race for the second American League wild card but is playing well with wins in five of the first seven games on the road trip, including a series win over the defending champion Houston Astros. "That's a good ballclub over there, with good arms and a good lineup," Mariners right fielder Mitch Haniger told reporters after a 9-0 triumph at Houston on Wednesday. "We always want to play them tough. We feel like we match up well with them and are in every game. Any team we play, we're trying to win and take the series. But it's always good beating them. They're the defending world champs, and it just speaks to what we've got in this clubhouse." The Rangers are going to finish in the AL West basement and are stumbling down the stretch with losses in four straight games. Texas will try to snap the slide while sending right-hander Connor Sadzeck out as the opener Friday against Seattle righty Erasmo Ramirez.


TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (2-3, 5.65 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Connor Sadzeck (0-0, 0.00)

Ramirez could not keep the ball in the park at the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday and surrendered three home runs among four hits in four innings without factoring in the decision. The Nicaragua native completed six innings in one of his nine starts this season and is up to 13 home runs allowed in 43 innings. Ramirez started at Texas on April 22 and suffered the loss while allowing five runs on five hits - two homers - and a walk in 4 2/3 frames.

Sadzeck is scheduled to pitch one or two innings as an opener before turning things over to Ariel Jurado. Sadzeck was part of the Rangers' wave of September call-ups and has yet to allow an earned run in eight appearances, spanning 6 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old rookie is seeing the Mariners for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers RHP Matt Bush underwent elbow surgery and will miss the first half of the 2019 season.

2. Seattle LHP James Paxton (pneumonia) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday.

3. Texas 2B Rougned Odor is 2-for-24 with 11 strikeouts over his last six games.

PREDICTION: Mariners 7, Rangers 4