Rangers at Mariners
The Texas Rangers find themselves in a peculiar position heading into their series finale against the Seattle Mariners. The American League West-leading Rangers will look to prevent their second three-game series sweep this season when they face their division rival at Safeco Field. The high-octane Rangers were rendered powerless in Saturday's 1-0 loss, but remain four games ahead of second-place Oakland as the Athletics dropped a 10-9 decision in 14 innings to the New York Yankees.
Michael Saunders belted a solo homer in the second inning and Blake Beavan and two relievers made the modest offense stand up for Seattle. Justin Smoak continued his torrid streak with a pair of hits to improve to 15-for-31 in his past eight games. Smoak will look to help the Mariners record their sixth win in nine home contests versus Texas this season.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FSH (Texas), ROOT (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Ryan Dempster (6-2, 4.70 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Jason Vargas (14-10, 3.92)
Dempster saw his five-game winning streak come to an end in emphatic fashion. The 35-year-old British Columbia native was touched for five runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings in an 11-3 setback to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. Prior to his last outing, Dempster had struck out 30 in his previous four starts.
Vargas, who has traded wins and losses since the end of July, settled for a no-decision in his last outing versus Texas on Sept. 15. The 29-year-old yielded four runs in 5 2/3 innings before departing. Vargas, who split a pair of contests against the Rangers, is just 4-5 in his career versus the AL West rival.
WALK-OFFS
1. Texas will begin a pivotal homestand with a four-game set against Oakland and a three-game series versus Los Angeles.
2. Seattle's Kyle Seager, who has collected 24 hits this month, has hit safely in all but three games in September.
3. Texas' Michael Young, who is riding an 11-game hitting streak, is 13-for-33 (.394) in his career versus Vargas.