Seattle @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 23, 2011 ) Seattle 12, Cleveland 7

THE STORY: The Cleveland Indians appeared as if they were about to break out of their funk with a walk-off victory in the opener of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Seattle Mariners. But they took another step backward in the nightcap and fell six games behind Detroit in the American League Central. Cleveland, which has dropped five of its last six, tries to salvage a series split when it hosts Seattle in the finale of their four-game set Wednesday afternoon. The Mariners have lost six of their last eight contests overall and 21 of 26 on the road.

TV: 12:05 p.m. ET, Root Sports (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (11-11, 3.38 ERA) vs. Indians RH Josh Tomlin (12-6, 4.03 ERA).

Hernandez, who will be making his 200th career start, has dropped two of his last three outings. He tossed his fourth complete game of the season Friday at Tampa Bay but came away with the loss, allowing allowed three runs over eight innings. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner is 4-3 with a 2.78 ERA in nine career starts against Cleveland and 2-3 at Progressive Field.

Tomlin has won just once in his last six outings. The 26-year old is coming off a loss at Detroit on Friday in which he yielded four runs over 6 2/3 innings. Tomlin has won both of his career starts against Seattle, including a 6-4 triumph on April 10 at Safeco Field.

ABOUT THE INDIANS (63-63): Travis Hafner, who is on the disabled list with a strained tendon in his right foot, could be done for the season. Hafner, who aggravated the injury Sunday after originally suffering the strain in late April, may need surgery, which would end his campaign. Sidelined since July 18 with a knee injury, Grady Sizemore participated in agility drills between games Tuesday and hopes to begin a rehab assignment next week. Shin-Soo Choo missed Monday's series opener due to the birth of his daughter. He returned with a vengeance Tuesday, recording a double and a walk-off, three-run homer in the first game before registering an RBI triple and a solo blast in the nightcap.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (55-73): Dan Cortes was placed on the disabled list between games Tuesday with a bruised ankle. Cortes, who originally suffered the injury Sunday, aggravated it in the seventh inning of the opener of the doubleheader and was lifted after issuing his second walk of the frame. Anthony Vasquez was brought up from Triple-A Tacoma to replace Cortes on the roster and notched the win as the starter in the nightcap. Vasquez became the 10th Mariner to make his major-league debut this season. Mike Carp, whose 20-game hitting streak was halted Monday, failed to reach safely in Tuesday's first game, ending that run at 30 contests.

FINAL PITCH: "I’m not counting myself. I’m just trying to win ballgames. Wake me up when we’re completely out of it mathematically." -- Cleveland manager Manny Acta on whether or not his team has fallen too far behind Detroit.