Texas @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2015 ) Texas 3, Seattle 0

The Texas Rangers are closing the gap on first-place Houston in the American League West and aim to make up more ground when they visit the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Texas recorded a 3-0 victory in the series opener to move within two games of the Astros while remaining 1 1/2 ahead of Minnesota for the second wild-card spot.

The Rangers improved to 4-3 on their 10-game trek with Monday's victory, and their 40 road wins are most in the majors. Texas is waiting for Prince Fielder - 0-for-11 over his last four games - to heat up as he is homerless with two RBIs over his last 13 contests. Seattle slugger Nelson Cruz (quadriceps) has missed four straight games and hopes to be available before the series ends. The Mariners were blanked for the 10th time in the series opener as their season-high five-game winning streak came to a halt.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Cole Hamels (8-8, 3.70 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Taijuan Walker (10-7, 4.51)

Hamels is starting against Seattle for the third time since joining the Rangers after going 0-1 with a 4.85 ERA in the first two meetings. He is 2-1 with a 3.89 ERA in six starts since being acquired from Philadelphia and settled for a no-decision against San Diego in his last turn, when he gave up three runs and eight hits in seven innings. Hamels has struggled against left-handed hitter Logan Morrison (10-for-25 with five walks and three doubles).

Walker is 3-0 over his last nine starts, with his most recent defeat coming before the All-Star break - July 12 to the Los Angeles Angels. He received a no-decision in his last turn after allowing three runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. Walker is 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against Texas - with the win occurring on April 27, when he allowed one unearned run in seven frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners 3B Kyle Seager extended his hitting streak to 10 games in the opener and is 19-for-39 with four homers and 12 RBIs during the stretch.

2. Texas LF Shin-Soo Choo is 9-for-21 with six walks in six contests this month.

3. Seattle LF Franklin Gutierrez (groin) has missed three consecutive games and is unlikely to start on Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Mariners 1