Mariners at Athletics
The streaking Oakland Athletics begin a nine-game homestand versus American League West rivals with three against the struggling Seattle Mariners starting Friday, but may do so without their slugger. Oakland manager Bob Melvin told reporters after Wednesday's 7-2 victory at Cleveland that designated hitter Khris Davis might be placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's game with a hip and/or oblique injury.
"It’s never great to not have him, but if you’re playing well, it’s certainly more palatable when you’re getting contributions up and down the lineup,” Melvin, whose club has won six straight, told reporters about Davis (team-high 12 home runs). “There are times where he carries the load by himself. That’s not the case right now. Guys are swinging the bats well and everyone is contributing.” Seattle has lost six of its last seven after getting swept in a three-game set at Texas this week, falling to 10-27 since a 13-2 start. After hitting 56 home runs in their first 25 games of the season, the Mariners have recorded only 37 in their last 26 contests but still lead baseball with 93 as first baseman Daniel Vogelbach paces the club with 14. Seattle's Wade LeBlanc gets the ball Friday after he was roughed up in his return from the injured list and opposes Daniel Mengden, who makes his third start since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Wade LeBlanc (2-1, 7.36 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Daniel Mengden (1-1, 3.65)
LeBlanc allowed four home runs among seven hits and seven runs in 2 1/3 innings of an 18-4 loss to Minnesota on Saturday. The 34-year-old Louisiana native was making his first start since April 12 after spending time on the injured list with a right oblique injury. LeBlanc, who has a .329 batting average against this season, is 3-0 with a 3.31 ERA in seven games (five starts) against Oakland.
Mengden yielded one run, three hits and two walks with five strikeouts in seven innings of a 4-1 victory at Detroit on Saturday. The 26-year-old Texan, who is 12-18 with a 4.84 ERA in 40 career starts, permitted four runs, five hits and four walks in 5 1/3 frames of a 5-3 loss to Cleveland on May 12. Seattle's Jay Bruce has a home run and two walks in three plate appearances against Mengden, who is 0-2 with a 5.89 ERA in four games (three starts) versus the Mariners.
WALK-OFFS
1. Seattle C Omar Narvaez (bruised left knee) left Wednesday's 2-1 loss after being struck by a foul ball and is day-to-day with manager Scott Servais telling reporters: "Omar got smoked good. He got hit about a week ago in the same spot."
2. Athletics RF Stephen Piscotty has reached base in 21 straight games - one shy of his career high.
3. The Mariners took the first four meetings this year, including the season-opening two-game series in Japan and two more matchups in Seattle earlier this month.