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Rangers go for three-of-four against Mariners

Jul 31, 2008 - 10:22 AM Seattle (40-67) at Texas (56-52) 8:05 p.m. EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- The Texas Rangers find themselves 11 1/2 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but are quietly remaining in contention in the tight AL wild-card race.

Texas sits 4 1/2 games behind the struggling Boston Red Sox as it heads into a a game with the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. The Rangers have taken a pair of one-run decisions after falling in the series opener.

Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (2-6, 4.62) takes the mound for the Rangers, who will be aiming to reach five games over .500 for the first time since August 2006. Dickey, who is 0-3 in his last six starts, has not won since he shut out the New York Mets over seven innings on June 24. Last time out, the 33-year-old was roughed up for eight runs on 10 hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings in a 8-3 loss to Toronto.

Dickey spent 2001-06 in the Texas organization, going 18-25 in 95 appearances, 42 starts. He spent 2007 in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, then was claimed by the Rangers from the Minnesota Twins in the Rule 5 draft in December 2007.

Seattle counters with rookie lefthander Matt Harrison (2-1, 7.32). The 23-year-old won his last time out, going five innings in a 9-4 win against the Oakland Athletics. He allowed three runs, one earned, on five hits and three walks with one strikeout.

The Mariners, owners of the worst record in the American League, find themselves 27 games behind the Angels and are part of plenty of trade talks as the deadlines approaches.

LHP Jarrod Washburn, LF Raul Ibanez and RHP Arthur Rhodes are all rumored to be involved in potential deals to playoff contenders.