Seattle @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 11, 2013 ) Boston 8, Seattle 7

The Boston Red Sox have dropped into second place in the American League East, a half-game behind Tampa Bay, following a 10-game stretch in which they went 5-5 against their top three division rivals. Boston has faced some of the AL's top pitching over the past seven games, including reigning Cy Young Award winner David Price twice. That trend will continue in a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners, who have their three best pitchers lined up to face the Red Sox.

The Mariners dropped the final three contests of a four-game set with Boston from July 8-11, but rebounded to win eight in a row and are 10-3 since that series. The double-play combination of rookies Brad Miller and Nick Franklin has provided a nice spark at the top of the lineup. Franklin has three homers, eight RBIs and a pair of three-hit games in his last four while leadoff batter Miller has four multiple-hit games and seven runs scored in his last 10.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Joe Saunders (9-9, 4.48 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Brandon Workman (0-1, 4.40)

Saunders had a four-start win streak snapped when he was roughed up for six runs - five earned - in 4 2/3 innings by Cleveland. Much of Saunders' early success had come when pitching in Seattle, but he has made a dramatic turnaround. The veteran southpaw was 0-4 with 30 runs allowed in his first five road starts, but is 4-1 with a mere nine runs surrendered in his last six outings away from home.

Workman has given the Red Sox consecutive solid performances in his first two major-league starts. He took the loss despite giving up two runs in six innings against Tampa Bay last time out and limited Oakland to a pair of runs in 6 1/3 innings in his previous start. Workman made his major-league debut in relief at Seattle on July 10 and gave up three runs on four hits in two innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Red Sox and Mariners combined to score 64 runs in the four-game series earlier this month.

2. Saunders is 5-2 with a 4.11 ERA in 10 career starts versus Boston. Jonny Gomes is 7-for-18 against him.

3. The Mariners designated ex-Boston LF Jason Bay for assignment on Monday. He was batting .204 with 11 homers and 20 RBIs.

PREDICTION: Mariners 5, Red Sox 3