On Deck will be here all season to provide you with everything you need to know (and a few things you don't) about every Rangers series during the 2016 season.
The Opponent: The Mariners came back from 10 runs down on Thursday night against San Diego to win the game and move into a first-place tie with Texas heading into a pivotal series. The Mariners are also the only team to win a series against the Rangers in Arlington this year.
Past 2016 Meetings: The teams have split their six meetings this year with Texas winning the series in Seattle in April and the Mariners taking the series in Arlington a week prior.
Pitching Matchups: Friday — Taijuan Walker (2-5, 3.31 ERA) vs. Yu Darvish (1-0, 1.80); Saturday — Nathan Karns (5-1, 3.43) vs. Martin Perez (3-4, 3.12); Sunday — Hisashi Iwakuma (4-4, 4.51) vs. Derek Holland (4-4, 4.78)
What's Hot: Noted Ranger killer Kyle Seager is batting .536 with two homers and 11 RBIs in his last seven games, so that's not good news for Texas. Adam Lind is batting .353 with a homer and five RBIs in his last five games. Nathan Karns gave up two runs in 6 2/3 innings his last time out.
Adrian Beltre is back to being hot at the plate, hitting .391 with two homers and four RBIs in his last six games. Jurickson Profar is hitting .357 with a double, triple and homer to go with seven runs in six games. Derek Holland and Martin Perez both turned in quality starts last time out, and Yu Darvish would have if not for his strict pitch limit in his first games back from Tommy John surgery.
What's Not: Nomar Mazara, as awesome as he is, is hitting .167 in his last six games. Prince Fielder is hitting at the same clip, continuing his season-long slump.
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Taijuan Walker gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings his last time out and has not been good previously in Arlington.
Familiar Faces: The Mariners have the big, feared bat of Nelson Cruz in the heart of their lineup after he spent years (many good ones) in Texas before going to Baltimore for a year and then Seattle last season. Leonys Martin and Tom Wilhelmsen swapped spots this winter, and Wilhelmsen is currently in Triple-A Round Rock trying to figure things out while Martin has been one of Seattle's best players, but he's currently on the disabled list. Former Rangers prospect Luis Sardinas is getting regular time at second base for the Mariners.
