Oakland @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2011 ) Seattle 5, Oakland 8
THE STORY: The two clubs at the bottom of the American League West wrap up the season against one another when the Oakland Athletics begin a three-game series at the Seattle Mariners on Monday night. The Athletics played the role of spoiler over the weekend, taking two of three games in Los Angeles to deal a near-fatal blow to the Angels' wild-card hopes. Seattle has lost four consecutive games.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Comcast Sports (Oakland); ROOT Sports (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Brandon McCarthy (9-8, 3.26 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Jason Vargas (9-13, 4.38 ERA)
McCarthy is 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA in September, opening the month with a three-hit, 10-strikeout shutout win over Seattle on Sept. 3. He needed just 79 pitches to get through seven innings in his last start against Texas on Wednesday, but Oakland couldn't muster the run support to get McCarthy the win. In 10 career games against Seattle, McCarthy is 2-4 with a 4.15 ERA.
Vargas was beaten in his last outing against Oakland, giving up five runs in as many innings on Sept. 2. He has pitched fairly well since, going 2-0 and allowing just six runs over his last 18 2/3 innings. The rest of the season's second half was a struggle — Vargas has four complete games and three shutouts in 2011, but none since July 1. He is 0-3 with a 4.74 ERA in his career against the Athletics.
ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (72-87): Oakland's offense ranks near the bottom of the league in most categories, but it came through when needed on Sunday. The Athletics broke through for four runs in the ninth inning to topple the Angels. Prior to that outburst, it had been seven games since Oakland had scored more than four runs in a full nine-inning contest.
ABOUT THE MARINERS (66-93): The problems that Oakland has had on offense this season pale in comparison to Seattle's woes. The Mariners rank last in the majors in nearly every offensive category, including runs scored (552) and batting average (.234). Even outfielder Ichiro Suzuki is batting a career-low .272, 54 points below his lifetime average of .326.
FINAL PITCH: Oakland right fielder David DeJesus left Sunday's game against the Angels after suffering a right hip contusion in the seventh inning.