Chicago @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2018 ) Chi. White Sox 5, Seattle 0

The race for the second wild-card spot in the American League is taking shape between the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics, two teams looking to end lengthy postseason droughts. Oakland is quickly closing in on the slumping Mariners, who host the Chicago White Sox on Sunday for the rubber match of their three-game series.

Dylan Covey allowed two hits in 8 1/3 innings and Avisail Garcia blasted a three-run homer in a 5-0 victory on Saturday as the White Sox won for the fourth time in five games. Garcia, who returned after missing six games with a strained right hamstring, has belted nine home runs over his last 14 overall contests and recorded a total of 10 RBIs in 10 career games at Safeco Field. Seattle has lost nine of its last 13 and had its lead over Oakland for the second wild card reduced to three games. Dee Gordon went 4-for-4 in the series opener and notched one of the team’s two hits on Saturday, but Kyle Seager has registered just one hit in 14 at-bats over his last four contests.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (4-7, 3.91 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (10-5, 3.41)

Lopez took the loss against Kansas City on July 14 after giving up five runs and nine hits over 7 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old Dominican has issued 47 walks in 112 2/3 frames, including 13 in his last five outings. “Right now, I’m good with where he’s at,” Chicago pitching coach Don Cooper told reporters. “I think he’s doing fine. But we’ve got about 12 or 13 more starts this season to continue the learning curve.”

Gonzales won his third straight start on July 11, allowing two hits without issuing a walk over seven innings in a 3-0 road victory against the Los Angeles Angels. The 26-year-old has worked six-plus frames in 13 of his last 15 starts, going 9-3 with a 2.70 ERA, 79 strikeouts and 19 walks over that stretch. Gonzales tossed six scoreless innings and registered eight strikeouts in a 1-0 road victory over the White Sox on April 24.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners LHP James Paxton (back) is expected to be activated from the disabled list in time to start Tuesday’s game against San Francisco.

2. White Sox C Omar Narvaez has gone 12-for-23 during his seven-game hitting streak.

3. Seattle optioned OF John Andreoli to Triple-A Tacoma to make room on the roster for RHP Felix Hernandez (back), who was activated from the 10-day disabled list and allowed four runs over five innings en route to the loss on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Mariners 7, White Sox 4