Seattle @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( May 28, 2013 ) San Diego 6, Seattle 1

Seattle outfielder Michael Morse didn’t make the trip to San Diego as the Mariners play the third of four straight games against the Padres on Wednesday at Petco Park. Morse suffered a right quadriceps injury while running the bases in Tuesday’s loss to the Padres and will miss at least the two games in San Diego. He will be re-evaluated in Seattle before a firm decision is reached on how long he will be sidelined.

The Mariners have been without first baseman Justin Smoak (oblique) the past three games but manager Eric Wedge said Smoak will take batting practice in San Diego to gauge how far away he is returning. Seattle had four hits in Tuesday’s 6-1 loss after recording 11 in Monday’s 9-0 victory. San Diego rookie second baseman Jedd Gyorko hit a two-run homer and veteran outfielder Mark Kotsay had a two-run single Tuesday. The victory was only the second in seven games for the Padres.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Seattle), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Joe Saunders (3-5, 6.09 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Stults (4-4, 4.22)

Saunders has been horrible on the road this season, going 0-4 with an 11.25 ERA in five starts. Opponents are batting .423 against him and he has allowed 47 hits and walked 13 in 24 innings. Saunders lost his last outing – at home – when he gave up six runs and eight hits in five innings against the Texas Rangers. He is 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA in nine career starts against the Padres.

Stults won each of his last two home starts, giving up one run on both occasions. He lost his last outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks when he gave up four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. Stults has walked two or fewer batters in nine of his 10 outings. He has never faced the Mariners.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego OF Carlos Quentin is 8-for-18 over his last five games.

2. Mariners DH/1B Kendrys Morales was 4-for-9 in the two games against the Padres in Seattle and is 17-for-36 during an eight-game hitting streak.

3. Padres 3B Chase Headley is 7-for-19 against Saunders.

PREDICTION: Mariners 6, Padres 5