Oakland @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2018 ) Oakland 8, Seattle 10

The Oakland Athletics' hopes of winning the American League West have vanished, but they will need a strong finish - and some help - to catch the New York Yankees for the league's top wild-card spot. The Athletics sit 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees with four remaining, including the finale of their three-game series against the host Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.

Oakland lost a game when leading after the seventh inning for the first time in 69 attempts this season when it fell 10-8 in 11 innings on Tuesday. The setback allowed Houston to clinch the AL West and left the Athletics facing the prospect of a long flight to New York for the wild-card game after finishing the regular season in Southern California against the Los Angeles Angels. The Mariners scored two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to force extra innings before Chris Herrmann hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the 11th to win the game. Seattle's Felix Hernandez returns from a hamstring injury to start for the first time since Sept. 8.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Edwin Jackson (6-3, 3.18 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (8-13, 5.46)

Jackson has won two straight decisions and five of his last six as he routinely keeps the Athletics in games. Oakland has prevailed in 10 of the 35-year-old's last 11 outings and is 13-3 with him on the mound since he joined the club in late June. Jackson defeated the Mariners on Sept. 2, when he allowed one run and three hits over six innings, and is 5-0 with a 1.30 ERA in five career starts against them.

Hernandez is 0-7 over his last 10 starts as he continues to suffer through a subpar campaign. The 32-year-old has given up five or more runs on seven occasions this season, and a loss against Oakland would match the career-worst total he suffered in both 2006 and 2011. Hernandez is 1-4 with a 4.66 ERA in five appearances (four starts) against the Athletics this season and has a stellar 26-13 record and 2.78 ERA in 51 career contests (50 starts) versus the club.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics RHP Blake Treinen allowed an unearned run in the ninth inning on Tuesday for his first blown save since July 21.

2. Mariners DH Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer on Tuesday - his 37th of the campaign - and is five RBIs shy of reaching 100 for the fourth time in his career.

3. Oakland 2B Jed Lowrie went 2-for-4 with his 96th RBI on Tuesday as he continues the pursuit for his first career 100-RBI season.

PREDICTION: Athletics 7, Mariners 5