Oakland @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( May 18, 2010 ) Seattle 5, Oakland 6
The Oakland Athletics have been like a bunch of gnats in the AL West race lately. They are hanging around and being annoying, but never really causing much trouble.
Oakland (56-54) claimed a three-game series from the division-leading Texas Rangers with Sunday’s 3-2 victory and sits 7 1/2 games out of first place.
The A’s went 6-6 against first-place teams in a recent stretch, but a .500 record is not going to cut it the rest of the way. Oakland needs to make a run and should get that chance starting Monday night against the AL West cellar-dwelling Seattle Mariners in the opener of a three-game series at Safeco Field.
The Athletics have a major league-best 2.88 ERA since the All-Star break, so the pitching is certainly there for a run.
The Mariners, who are 42-70 and playing for draft position, won their first series since June 29-July 1 with a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Oakland will start Vin Mazzaro (6-3, 3.86 ERA) against Doug Fister (3-8, 3.98 ERA) in a matchup of right-handers.
Mazzaro is 3-1 with a 3.43 ERA since July 1. He received a no-decision in his last start on Tuesday, allowing two runs in six innings against Kansas City.
It’s hard to believe Fister was not only the best Mariners pitcher in April but also one of the best in the American League, leading the junior circuit in ERA at one point.
The right-hander is 0-7 with a 5.65 ERA in his last 11 starts and has not won since May 14. His last home victory came on April 19 – a span of 16 starts - when he limited the Baltimore Orioles to one run and three hits in seven innings.
Fister has had success against Oakland, going 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA in four career starts. He's given up just one run in 15 innings in winning both outings against the Athletics at home.
Fister allowed a season-high seven runs in 4 2/3 innings Wednesday in an 11-6 home loss to Texas.
The Mariners received some bad news on two players Sunday.
Starting shortstop Jack Wilson fractured a bone in his right hand after slipping in his bathroom. He is expected to see a specialist Monday and likely headed back to the disabled list. He missed 41 games this season with a hamstring injury.
Seattle right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley also might need surgery on his pitching elbow. Medical test have not shown what is causing pain in the elbow. He has been on the disabled list since June 25 with inflammation in the elbow. Kelley will have more tests Monday.