Oakland @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2018 ) Oakland 7, Seattle 3

The Oakland Athletics have clinched an American League postseason berth, but they still have business in front of them as they visit the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Oakland is 1 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the battle for the top wild-card spot and home-field advantage in next week's one-game playoff.

The Athletics' playoff spot was cemented when Tampa Bay lost to New York on Monday, but they went out and posted a 7-3 victory over the Mariners. Slugger Khris Davis belted his major league-leading 46th homer while Matt Chapman, Jed Lowrie and Jonathan Lucroy also went deep as Oakland remained 4 1/2 games behind first-place Houston in the AL West. Seattle has been outscored 13-4 while losing its last two games as it plays out the string of a season in which it missed the playoffs for a 17th straight time. Dee Gordon hit a two-run homer on Monday and Robinson Cano launched a solo shot.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Brett Anderson (4-5, 3.96 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Mike Leake (10-10, 4.10)

Anderson defeated the Los Angeles Angels in his last turn as he allowed three hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. The 30-year-old is 3-3 with a 2.98 ERA and .229 batting average against in nine starts since the All-Star break after being 1-2 with a 6.08 ERA and .356 opponents' average in six outings prior to the Midsummer Classic. Anderson settled for a no-decision on Aug. 15, when he held Seattle to five hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings, and is 8-4 with a 1.82 ERA in 18 career appearances (17 starts) versus the club.

Leake had his two-start winning streak halted his last time out, when he gave up five runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings against Houston. The 30-year-old is 2-4 with a 3.88 ERA since the All-Star break but has issued just five walks over 62 2/3 frames during that stretch. Leake is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in four starts against Oakland this season and 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA in seven career outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Lowrie needs five RBIs to reach 100 for the first time in his career.

2. Seattle RF Mitch Haniger was hitless in four at-bats in the series opener, halting his 11-game hitting streak.

3. Davis has registered 120 RBIs, putting him second in the majors behind Boston's J.D. Martinez (124).

PREDICTION: Athletics 4, Mariners 1