San Francisco @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 24, 2018 ) San Francisco 4, Seattle 3

The Seattle Mariners attempt to break out of their funk when they host the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday afternoon for the finale of their two-game interleague series. Seattle dropped a 4-3 decision to the Giants on Tuesday for its sixth setback in eight contests.

The Mariners once were battling Houston for first place in the American League West and now are just 1 1/2 games ahead of Oakland, which also is challenging for an AL wild-card spot. A throwing error by second baseman Dee Gordon allowed the Giants to push across the winning run in the ninth inning of the series opener as they moved two games above .500. Brandon Belt struck out four times in five hitless at-bats on Tuesday and is just 1-for-29 over his last seven games as his batting average has fallen 25 points to .277. Seattle slugger Nelson Cruz is homerless in his last 14 games and has gone deep just once this month after belting 11 shots in June.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Facebook Watch

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Derek Holland (5-8, 4.06 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Mike Leake (8-6, 4.22)

Holland draws the start after it was determined Jeff Samardzija (shoulder) isn't ready to be activated from the disabled list. The 31-year-old Holland last started on July 10, when he gave up one run and five hits with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings of a 2-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Holland is 13-6 with a 3.73 ERA in 27 career appearances (23 starts) against the Mariners.

Leake has gone 0-2 over his last four starts, lasting only four innings on two occasions during the slump. The 30-year-old is 3-4 with a 4.45 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 10 turns at home this season. Leake is 5-2 with a 4.81 ERA in 10 career appearances (nine starts) against the Giants, the team for which he made nine starts during the 2015 season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Mariners are just 2-7 in interleague play this season.

2. San Francisco 2B Joe Panik (groin) will begin a rehab stint at Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

3. Seattle LHP James Paxton (back) was not activated to make Tuesday's start after he reported soreness, and the new timetable calls for a return early next week.

PREDICTION: Mariners 3, Giants 2