Texas @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 27, 2018 ) Texas 2, Seattle 0

The Texas Rangers look to defeat the host Seattle Mariners for the sixth time in their last seven meetings on Friday, when they meet for the second contest of their four-game set. The Rangers scored 36 runs in their previous four wins over Seattle before relying on pitching en route to a 2-0 triumph in Thursday's series opener.

Ronald Guzman snapped a scoreless deadlock with a run-scoring single in the seventh inning for just his second RBI in his last 11 contests. Slugger Joey Gallo, who ranks third in the majors with 40 home runs, was hitless in four at-bats on Thursday and is 1-for-16 with 10 strikeouts over his last four games. Seattle recorded just three singles in the series-opening setback as it was shut out for the third time in September after being blanked just four times over the first five months of the season. Nelson Cruz struck out three times in four hitless at-bats and remains four shy of his fourth career 100-RBI season.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Martin Perez (2-6, 6.13 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Wade LeBlanc (8-5, 3.55)

Perez is making his 15th start of the season and hasn't notched a victory since allowing two runs and seven hits over six innings against the Mariners on April 22. The 27-year-old is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in three turns versus Seattle this season and 7-4 with a 3.26 ERA in 20 career appearances (18 starts). Perez routinely had handled Robinson Cano (7-for-36) while struggling with Kyle Seager (17-for-52, four homers) and Cruz (9-for-30, three).

LeBlanc has posted a stellar 1.83 ERA over his last six starts but is just 1-2 during that stretch. The 34-year-old lost to the Rangers in his last turn, when he gave up three runs and eight hits over five innings to drop to 1-1 with a 2.76 ERA in three meetings this season. LeBlanc is 6-3 with a 3.62 ERA in 15 home appearances (13 starts) but has allowed 17 homers compared to six in 16 road games (13 starts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers RHP Jose Leclerc recorded his 12th save on Thursday and hasn't allowed a run over 21 innings in his last 21 appearances.

2. Seattle RHP Edwin Diaz has notched 56 saves and needs one more to match Bobby Thigpen for second-most in a season (1990 with the Chicago White Sox) in major-league history.

3. Texas 3B Adrian Beltre (hip) sat out Thursday, will serve as the DH on Friday and Saturday and is hopeful he can play in the field Sunday in case it turns out to be the final game of his 21-year career.

PREDICTION: Mariners 5, Rangers 3