Cleveland @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 15, 2010 ) Seattle 1, Cleveland 9

The Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners are in a close battle in the American League – but this one won't decide a division title.

The Indians and Mariners begin a four-game series Thursday night at Safeco Field in a matchup of teams near the bottom of the American League standings. Only the Baltimore Orioles have a worse record than Cleveland and Seattle.

Cleveland starts Josh Tomlin (2-3, 4.08 ERA) against Doug Fister (4-10, 3.73) in a showdown of right-handers.

Both clubs enter this series coming off games typical of their disappointing seasons.

Cleveland was swept by the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday when Paul Konerko hit a two-out, three-run homer in the eighth inning for a 6-4 victory. The White Sox swept the three-game series at Progressive Field using late homers in each victory.

Seattle’s Jason Vargas allowed just two hits through six innings in Wednesday's game against Los Angeles, but surrendered a Mike Napoli double in the seventh before Hideki Matsui hit a two-run homer that just eluded Ichiro Suzuki’s jump at the right-field wall. Vargas pitched at least six innings for the ninth time in his past 11 starts, but took the loss in Seattle’s 4-2 defeat.

Lack of run support has hurt almost every Seattle starter as the Mariners rank last in the majors in runs (431), hits (1,047), average (.236), homers (82) and RBIs (406).

Fister will try to overcome the lackluster Mariners’ offense. Fister held Minnesota to one run on six hits in seven innings Saturday but the Mariners got just two hits in a 1-0 loss to Nick Blackburn and the Twins.

Fister is making his second start against the Indians and first this season. He allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 4-3, 11-inning loss on Aug. 22, 2009.

Fister can only hope he gets the kind of support Tomlin received in his last start.

Tomlin allowed three runs and walked four in five innings Friday to earn a 15-4 win over Kansas City. The right-handed rookie has never faced the Mariners and is 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in three road starts.

The Indians have had great success at Safeco Field, winning five straight games and 18 of their past 25.

Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is 6-for-13 with two doubles in three games against Seattle this season and third baseman Jayson Nix is 3-for-8 with two homers.