Oakland @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 17, 2019 ) Seattle 2, Oakland 10

The Oakland Athletics were two outs away from a third straight loss and a drop in the American League wild-card standings before Matt Chapman changed their fortunes with one swing of the bat. Oakland attempts to move closer to a spot in the postseason when it visits the Seattle Mariners on Thursday for the opener of their season-ending four-game series.

With one on and one out in the top of the ninth inning on Wednesday, Chapman deposited a shot over the center-field wall to turn a one-run deficit into a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. The blast was the 35th of the season for the slugging third baseman, who leads the AL with 17 homers in the seventh inning or later. Ramon Laureano also went deep on Wednesday as the Athletics remained one-half game ahead of Tampa Bay and two in front of Cleveland for the top wild-card spot. Seattle was held hitless by Houston's Zack Greinke for 8 1/3 innings on Wednesday before Austin Nola singled, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Mariners from suffering their third consecutive loss - and second by a 3-0 score.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Sean Manaea (3-0, 1.14 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (1-7, 6.51)

Manaea has been superb since returning from shoulder surgery, allowing three runs and 12 hits over 23 2/3 innings in four starts. After giving up one hit over five frames in a no-decision against the New York Yankees on the road in his season debut, the 27-year-old native of Indiana has registered 20 strikeouts while issuing only four walks over 18 2/3 innings in winning his next three turns. Manaea has made 10 career starts versus Seattle, going 5-4 with a 3.90 ERA.

A pending free agent, Hernandez likely will be making his final start of a 15-year tenure with Seattle during which he was named an All-Star six times, won the AL Cy Young Award in 2010 and pitched a perfect game two years later. The 33-year-old Venezuelan has endured a difficult season, going without a victory since winning his 2019 debut and spending a significant amount of time on the injured list. Hernandez hopes to end the campaign on a high note as he faces his favorite opponent in Oakland, against which he has posted a career-best 26 wins (against 14 losses), three complete games and a 2.85 ERA in 51 starts and one relief appearance.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics DH Khris Davis was kept out of the starting lineup Wednesday due to the stomach flu.

2. Seattle rookie OF Tim Lopes also singled on Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to four games.

3. Oakland C Beau Taylor, who began the season with the club before being claimed off waivers by Toronto on August 16 but was reclaimed by the Athletics less than a month later, was designated for assignment on Wednesday for the third time this year.

PREDICTION: Athletics 6, Mariners 2