Seattle @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2011 ) Seattle 3, Cleveland 2

THE STORY: The steady stream of injuries and obstacles may be starting to weigh heavily on the Cleveland Indians. The Tribe, who placed designated hitter Travis Hafner on the disabled list Monday, badly needs a sweep of the visiting Seattle Mariners in a day-night doubleheader Tuesday. After a demoralizing loss in the first game of the series, Justin Masterson is scheduled to pitch in the afternoon game for Cleveland and rookie Zach McAllister in the nightcap. The Indians have lost 10 games in August, seven by one run. Seattle has won just four of their last 24 games on the road.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET; ROOT (Seattle), STO (Cleveland).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Anthony Vasquez (0-0, 0.00) vs. Indians RH Zach McAllister (0-0, 4.50).

Vasquez, an 18th round pick in the 2009 draft out of USC, makes his major league debut. Vasquez, 24, was 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA with Triple-A Tacoma. He had 32 strikeouts and 18 walks in 53 1/3 innings.

McAllister makes his second major league start. McAllister, 23, pitched four innings in a start against Toronto July 7, allowing five hits and three runs – two earned. He did not get a decision in the Cleveland win. McAllister was 10-3 with a 3.37 ERA at Triple-A Columbus, with 112 strikeouts in 141 2/3 innings.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (54-72): Ichiro Suzuki had three hits Monday and has been on a bit of an upswing of late. Suzuki, batting .280 overall in August, is 8-for-22 in the last five games. But Suzuki isn’t likely to extend his streak of seasons with 200 hits and a .300 average to 11 seasons. He has 141 hits and is batting .269. Shortstop Brendan Ryan was back in the lineup for the first time since Aug. 3 Monday and went 0-for-3. Catcher Miguel Olivo leads the Mariners with 15 homers and 50 RBIs, but has just one homer and four RBI since July 24.

ABOUT THE INDIANS (62-62): Without Hafner (foot injury) and Shin-Soo Choo, who was scratched from the lineup to join his wife for the birth of their child, the Indians could manage just two runs Monday. They had the bases loaded and one out in the fourth, but Michael Brantley grounded into a double play. Choo is 12-for-35 since coming off the disabled list and 10-for-24 in the last five games. Carlos Santana extended his hitting streak to seven games. He is batting .304 since July 25. Jack Hannahan may get more time at third base. He is 6-for-16 his last seven games.

FINAL PITCH: The Indians will play the next 13 games against teams with losing records, the first 10 at home, until the Detroit Tigers come to Cleveland Sept. 5.