GAME: Seattle Mariners (13-11) at Oakland Athletics (13-13)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 02 - 10:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
The Seattle Mariners could have a little payback in mind when they kick off a seven-game road trip on Monday night with the first of three contests against the Oakland Athletics. The Mariners stumbled out of the gate this season with six losses in their first eight outings, including a three-game sweep by the Athletics in Seattle from April 8-10.
Despite a 4-1 setback to Kansas City on Sunday, the Mariners have won five consecutive series for the first time since notching six in a row in May and June 2011. It was only the third defeat in 11 games for Seattle, which is a half-game behind first-place Texas in the American League West. Oakland extended a dubious streak with Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros, going 39 consecutive home series of at least three games without recording a sweep. Kendall Graveman starts Monday for the Athletics, who are 5-8 at home, and will be opposed by Nathan Karns.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), ROOT (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Nathan Karns (2-1, 3.63 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Kendall Graveman (1-2 4.03)
Karns capped an inconsistent first month with a brilliant outing versus Houston on Monday, working seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball while notching seven strikeouts. Control continues to be an issue for the 28-year-old Karns, who has walked 11 batters over 17 1/3 innings spanning his last three starts. Karns has lost both career starts against the Athletics, including his season debut, when he was touched for four runs on seven hits in five innings.
After three solid outings to begin the season, Graveman turned in a clunker at Detroit in his last start, yielding six runs on 10 hits -- three homers -- over 4 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old Alabama native was solid in his previous two outings, allowing a combined two runs on only seven hits in a pair of quality starts. Graveman shut down the Mariners in his lone start against them on July 4, 2015, tossing seven scoreless innings and allowing five hits.
WALK-OFFS
1. Oakland's pitching held Seattle to four runs and 15 hits in the three-game sweep last month.
2. Athletics 2B Jed Lowrie has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games.
3. Mariners LF Seth Smith is 7-for-18 during a five-game hitting streak.
PREDICTION: Mariners 4, Athletics 2
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 02 - 10:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
The Seattle Mariners could have a little payback in mind when they kick off a seven-game road trip on Monday night with the first of three contests against the Oakland Athletics. The Mariners stumbled out of the gate this season with six losses in their first eight outings, including a three-game sweep by the Athletics in Seattle from April 8-10.
Despite a 4-1 setback to Kansas City on Sunday, the Mariners have won five consecutive series for the first time since notching six in a row in May and June 2011. It was only the third defeat in 11 games for Seattle, which is a half-game behind first-place Texas in the American League West. Oakland extended a dubious streak with Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros, going 39 consecutive home series of at least three games without recording a sweep. Kendall Graveman starts Monday for the Athletics, who are 5-8 at home, and will be opposed by Nathan Karns.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), ROOT (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Nathan Karns (2-1, 3.63 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Kendall Graveman (1-2 4.03)
Karns capped an inconsistent first month with a brilliant outing versus Houston on Monday, working seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball while notching seven strikeouts. Control continues to be an issue for the 28-year-old Karns, who has walked 11 batters over 17 1/3 innings spanning his last three starts. Karns has lost both career starts against the Athletics, including his season debut, when he was touched for four runs on seven hits in five innings.
After three solid outings to begin the season, Graveman turned in a clunker at Detroit in his last start, yielding six runs on 10 hits -- three homers -- over 4 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old Alabama native was solid in his previous two outings, allowing a combined two runs on only seven hits in a pair of quality starts. Graveman shut down the Mariners in his lone start against them on July 4, 2015, tossing seven scoreless innings and allowing five hits.
WALK-OFFS
1. Oakland's pitching held Seattle to four runs and 15 hits in the three-game sweep last month.
2. Athletics 2B Jed Lowrie has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games.
3. Mariners LF Seth Smith is 7-for-18 during a five-game hitting streak.
PREDICTION: Mariners 4, Athletics 2
