Seattle @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 5, 2014 ) Seattle 3, Oakland 1

The Seattle Mariners attempt to end a surprisingly good season-opening six-game road trip on a winning note when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. The new-look Seattle club featuring free-agent signees Robinson Cano and Fernando Rodney as well as a new manager in Lloyd McClendon is off to a 4-1 start after defeating Oakland on Saturday. The Mariners swept three games from the Los Angeles Angels to open the season and their only loss came in a 12-inning affair against Oakland on Thursday.

The Athletics have just four runs and 12 hits while splitting the first two games of the series and are off to a 2-3 start. Oakland is considered one of the favorites to win the American League West but Seattle is attempting to send an early season message that it will no longer be the division pushover. “This start of the year is huge for us, to get out and get some wins and maybe separate ourselves a little bit and kind of show everybody we mean business,” outfielder Dustin Ackley told reporters after Saturday’s 3-1 win.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (1-0, 2.57 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Sonny Gray (0-0, 0.00)

Ramirez had a strong outing while beating the Angels in his first start as he allowed two runs and six hits over seven innings. He is 0-2 with a 4.38 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against the Athletics despite holding Oakland hitters to a collective .164 average. Ramirez lasted just 1 1/3 innings in his lone start against Oakland last season, allowing four runs and three hits while issuing four bases on balls.

Gray struck out seven while pitching six innings of five-hit shutout ball against Cleveland in his first start. He excelled after being recalled last July by going 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA in his initial taste of the majors. Gray went 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two starts against the Mariners and struck out 15 in 12 innings and gave up only five hits.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cano is batting .421 with two RBIs and has at least one hit in all five games.

2. Athletics 3B Josh Donaldson has gone hitless in four consecutive games and is 2-for-22 on the season.

3. Rodney earned his first save with Seattle by relieving Felix Hernandez and striking out the final two batters Saturday.

PREDICTION: Athletics 4, Mariners 0