Seattle @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 18, 2013 ) Seattle 6, Oakland 5

The Oakland Athletics begin defense of their American League West crown when they host the Seattle Mariners on Monday. Oakland was 13 games out on the final day of June before beginning a remarkable climb and won the division title by beating the Texas Rangers on the last day of the season. Seattle hopes to move up the standings and may no longer be the worst team in the AL West with the addition of the Houston Astros.

The Mariners have had issues scoring runs in recent seasons and shortened the distance of the outfield fences at Safeco Park. Seattle also traded for first baseman Kendrys Morales and outfielder Michael Morse and signed free-agent outfielders Raul Ibanez and Jason Bay. Oakland didn’t do a lot of tinkering but acquired outfielder Chris Young from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Athletics were known for terrific comebacks and had six different players hit walk-off homers last season.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Seattle), Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (2012: 13-9, 3.06 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Brett Anderson (4-2, 2.57 ERA)

Hernandez received a seven-year, $175 million deal in the off-season. The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner added a perfect game to his career accomplishments last season but also went 0-4 with a 6.62 ERA over his last six starts. Hernandez is 13-6 with a 2.82 ERA in 26 career starts against Oakland. He was 1-2 with a 4.01 ERA in five 2012 starts against the Athletics.

Anderson is healthy after missing most of last season while recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery. The promising 25-year-old has made 38 starts over the past three seasons while dealing with various arm woes. Anderson has stymied the Mariners often in his brief career, compiling a 7-3 record and 1.76 ERA in 13 career outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Athletics went 12-7 against the Mariners last season.

2. Oakland P Bartolo Colon will miss the first five games to complete a 50-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs.

3. Seattle smashed 58 homers in 33 spring-training games.

PREDICTION: Athletics 6, Mariners 4