Cleveland @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 21, 2012 ) Cleveland 1, Seattle 5
The Seattle Mariners attempt to conclude their homestand with a series sweep as they host the struggling Cleveland Indians in the finale of their three-game set on Wednesday afternoon. Seattle, which has won nine of 10 overall, lost the opener of its nine-game homestand before reeling off seven consecutive victories, including a 5-1 triumph on Tuesday. Ace Felix Hernandez lost his bid for a second straight perfect game three pitches into the contest but went on to post his eighth win in a row.
Seattle, which has climbed within four games of the .500 mark, will be trying to hand Cleveland its eight consecutive loss. The Indians, who are 1-7 on their nine-game road trip, have lost 17 of 18 away from home and 20 of 24 overall. The club has not won a series since taking two of three at home against Detroit from July 24-26, going 0-7-1 while being swept four times.
TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), Root Sports (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Zach McAllister (5-4, 3.64 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Hisashi Iwakuma (4-3, 3.79)
McAllister is coming off a no-decision at Oakland on Friday in which he allowed four runs and eight hits over six innings. The 24-year-old has won just one of his last six starts, surrendering three or more runs in five of the outings. McAllister settled for a no-decision against the Mariners on May 17 after yielding four runs - three earned - in 5 2/3 frames.
Iwakuma will be making his ninth straight start following 14 relief appearances. The 31-year-old has won three of his last four outings, including a triumph over Minnesota on Friday in which he gave up an unearned run over seven innings. Iwakuma has allowed three earned runs or less in seven of his starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Seattle, which has won 14 of its last 15 contests at Safeco Field, has not had an eight-game winning streak since June 23-July 1, 2007.
2. Mariners CF Michael Saunders is hitting .284 with four home runs and 10 RBIs over his last 19 home games.
3. Indians RHP Josh Tomlin will undergo Tommy John surgery on Wednesday and may not return until 2014.