ARLINGTON, Texas (Interstat) — The Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers, separated by half a game in the standings, meet Saturday at Globe Life Field in a pivotal American League West matchup.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT under partly cloudy skies with a game-time temperature of 92 degrees.

Seattle (51-52) enters having lost four of its past five games, including a 5-3 defeat to Cincinnati on Wednesday. Right-hander Emerson Hancock is expected to start. Hancock (4-6, 3.58 ERA) took the loss in that game, allowing two earned runs over six innings with three strikeouts. Over his past three outings, he has posted a 1.50 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings, including a seven-inning shutout performance against Toronto on July 5.

Texas (51-51) also comes off a 4-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. The Rangers have dropped five of their last seven games. Left-handed reliever Robby Ahlstrom has been a key piece out of the bullpen. Ahlstrom has a 3.14 ERA over 20 appearances, striking out 16 in 14 1/3 innings. He has not allowed an earned run over his last 4 2/3 innings spanning four appearances.

The teams split a four-game series in Seattle in April, with the Rangers taking three of four. Texas outscored the Mariners 14-11 in that set. The series opener Friday was postponed by rain.

Seattle has been installed as a 1.5-run favorite, according to Interstat’s game simulator, which projects a 5-4 Texas victory. The over/under is 7.5 runs.

For Seattle, Hancock’s command will be critical. He has induced ground balls at a 47% clip this season. For Texas, Ahlstrom’s ability to neutralize left-handed hitters — holding them to a .198 average — could prove pivotal in late-inning situations.

The Mariners will send Hancock to the mound looking to stabilize a rotation that has a 4.21 ERA over the last 10 games. Texas will counter with a bullpen that has a 3.89 ERA during the same span.

Both teams are chasing the Houston Astros in the division. Saturday’s game marks the second contest of a four-game series, followed by meetings Sunday and Monday before Seattle travels to Los Angeles and Texas heads to Tampa Bay.