Cleveland @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 22, 2013 ) Cleveland 1, Seattle 2

The Seattle Mariners have not only won a season-best seven consecutive games but they are surprisingly second in the majors with 122 homers. The Mariners look to add to their impressive long ball output when they host the Cleveland Indians in the second contest of a three-game set on Tuesday. Only the Baltimore Orioles (135) have more homers than Seattle, which received solo homers from Kendrys Morales and Mike Zunino in Monday’s 2-1 victory.

Cleveland pitchers went 88 innings without allowing a homer until Morales went deep against Ubaldo Jimenez in the fourth inning of Monday’s game. Seattle has hit at least one home run in 25 of its past 26 games and has moved within five games of the .500 mark. Mariners manager Eric Wedge missed Monday’s game after being transported to the hospital due to dizziness; bench coach Robby Thompson ran the team and will do so again Tuesday if Wedge is unavailable.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), ROOT (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Zach McAllister (4-5, 3.43 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (0-0, 13.50)

McAllister is making his first major-league appearance since June 2 after being sidelined with an injury to the middle finger of his pitching hand. He pitched six innings of two-hit shutout ball in a rehab assignment last Thursday for Triple-A Columbus. McAllister is 0-1 with a 5.64 ERA in four career starts against Seattle and received a no-decision May 18 when he gave up two runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Ramirez is making his second major-league start of the season. He was torched by the Boston Red Sox for seven runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings on July 11. Ramirez went 1-3 with a 3.36 ERA in 16 appearances (eight starts) for Seattle last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seattle has outscored opponents 46-21 during its winning streak.

2. Cleveland OF/1B Nick Swisher went 2-for-4 with a homer Monday after going 2-for-21 over his previous five games.

3. Mariners OF Michael Saunders had a 10-game hitting streak halted in the opener.

PREDICTION: Mariners 4, Indians 3