Texas @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 23, 2018 ) Seattle 1, Texas 6

The first leg of the Texas Rangers' season-ending seven-game road trip was anything but a success, but the team hopes to conclude 2018 on a high note, starting with the opener of its four-game series against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. Texas, which took two of three from the Mariners at home last weekend, lost a pair of one-run decisions as it began its trek by being swept by the Los Angeles Angels.

The Rangers held a pair of one-run leads in Wednesday's 3-2 setback as Adrian Beltre and Jurickson Profar belted solo homers before reliever Chris Martin served up a tiebreaking blast by Shohei Ohtani in the eighth inning. Seattle's Ben Gamel delivered a two-run double in Wednesday's 9-3 loss to Oakland, the Mariners' fourth setback in their six contests. Seattle's pitching staff has been roughed up in that span, surrendering a total of 38 runs - and at least six in each of the last four games. Slugger Nelson Cruz lifted a sacrifice fly Wednesday and needs to drive in four runs over his last four contests to reach the 100-RBI plateau for a third consecutive season and fourth time in five years.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Ariel Jurado (4-5, 6.66 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (13-9, 4.12)

After getting the start in each of his first seven appearances this season, Jurado has entered behind an "opener" on four straight occasions and recorded the win in the last two. The 22-year-old Panamanian rookie worked five innings in his first career meeting with Seattle on Friday, allowing two runs and six hits. Jurado has posted a ghastly 7.96 ERA on the road, which is nearly three runs higher than his mark at home (5.16).

Gonzales lost all four of his starts in August but has rebounded nicely, going 1-0 while allowing four runs over 16 innings in three outings this month. The victory came Saturday at Texas, where the 26-year-old native of Colorado permitted one hit over six scoreless frames. Gonzales is 2-1 with a 3.57 ERA in three outings against the Rangers this year, allowing an unearned run and five hits over 12 2/3 innings in the triumphs.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners INF Robinson Cano is riding an eight-game hitting streak during which he has gone 16-for-33 with two homers and eight RBIs.

2. Texas OF Joey Gallo, who hit his 40th home run a day earlier, struck out in all four at-bats Wednesday to extend his team record to 204 on the season.

3. Seattle has yet to name starters for the final two games of the series, although LHP James Paxton likely will take the mound Saturday.

PREDICTION: Mariners 6, Rangers 3