Athletics at Mariners
Although Marcus Semien has recorded at least one hit in 27 of his last 29 games, many of his recent ones haven't been very impactful. The 28-year-old changed that in a big way last time out and will attempt to lead the Oakland Athletics to their 13th win in 17 contests when they visit the Seattle Mariners on Friday for the opener of the three-game series between the American League West rivals.
The Athletics kept the heat on Cleveland in the AL wild-card race with their fifth win in six tries following Thursday's 7-2 victory over AL Central-leading Minnesota, remaining one game behind the Indians for the second spot. Semien did the bulk of the damage offensively for Oakland, ending a 16-game stretch without a multiple-RBI performance with a grand slam and a solo homer as part of a 2-for-4 effort that lifted his average over the last 30 days to .307. The Mariners continued their losing ways Thursday, giving up a slim lead late for the second straight contest en route to a 5-4 setback against St. Louis. Seattle is 25-51 since opening the season with 13 wins in 15 contests and trail division-leading Houston by 19 games.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Brett Anderson (8-5, 3.92 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Yusei Kikuchi (4-5, 5.12)
Anderson bounced back from his worst outing of the season with his best in Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Angels, yielding only two hits and two walks in 7 2/3 scoreless innings. The 31-year-old Texan was roughed up for seven runs over three frames six days earlier but had turned in three straight quality starts prior to that poor performance. Anderson faced Seattle twice in May, suffering the loss after permitting four runs over six innings on the road before allowing one run in 6 1/3 frames at home to notch the victory.
Kikuchi's scheduled start for the series opener is in some doubt as he and his wife are awaiting the birth of their first child. The 28-year-old from Japan, who has posted a 1-4 record and 8.42 ERA with 19 strikeouts and 18 walks over 31 innings in his last seven outings, is coming off a no-decision at Houston on Sunday in which he allowed five runs - three earned - over five frames. Kikuchi has faced Oakland three times in 2019, going 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA while serving up four home runs in 14 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics starting pitchers are 4-0 with a 2.48 ERA over the team's last six games.
2. Mariners 1B Daniel Vogelbach has hit 20 homers and drawn 60 walks this season, making him the only left-handed hitter in club history to reach both marks before the All-Star break.
3. Semien's two homers on Thursday ran Oakland's team total to 139, a club record for the most by the team prior to the All-Star break.