Oakland @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2011 ) Oakland 2, Seattle 4

THE STORY: Two struggling clubs looking to end the season with some positive momentum face off when Seattle hosts Oakland on Tuesday night in the second of a three-game series. The Mariners snapped a four-game losing streak by taking Monday's opener, 4-2, behind eight strong innings from Jason Vargas and a three-run homer by Justin Smoak.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Comcast Sports (Oakland); ROOT Sports (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: A's RH Trevor Cahill (11-14, 4.31 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Blake Beavan (5-5, 3.82 ERA)

Only two pitchers in the American League have walked more batters than Cahill (81), who has struggled mightily since a fantastic start in April and May. Cahill is 3-7 with a 6.35 ERA since the All-Star break, splitting a pair of starts against the Mariners in that time — after being rocked in an Aug. 1 road loss (4 IP, 12 H, 7 ER), Cahill earned a win at home on Sept. 4 (5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER).

Beavan has saved his best for last during his rookie campaign, giving up two runs in 15 innings over his last two starts. He has given up just 10 hits without a walk during that span, striking out seven. Beavan is 1-1 against Cahill and the A's since the start of August, winning at home on Aug. 1 (6 2/3 IP, 7 H, 3 ER) and taking a loss in Oakland on Sept. 4 (5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER).

ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (72-88): Oakland has had its moments this season — as it did over the weekend when it took two of three from Los Angeles to put a serious dent in the Angels' playoff hopes — but an inconsistent offense has prevented such occasions from becoming more commonplace. Rookie 2B Jemile Weeks (.305, 22 SB) has provided a nice complement to CF Coco Crisp (48 SB) at the top of the order, giving the A's some hope for the future.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (67-93): Seattle showed promise early in the season with some fine young pitching, but those arms faded in the second half — the team's ERA was 3.23 at the All-Star break but has ballooned by more than a run and a half in the games since. An anemic offense that ranks last in the major leagues in runs scored (556) and most other categories hasn't made life any easier.

FINAL PITCH: Including Monday's defeat, the A's have won just two of their last eight games in Seattle.