SEATTLE vs. SAN DIEGO 8/29/2018 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview

Things were looking up for the Seattle Mariners when they swept a four-game series against American League West-leading Houston earlier this month, but they have since lost eight of 13 contests. Seattle looks to maintain its fading hopes for a playoff position when it visits the San Diego Padres on Wednesday afternoon for the finale of their two-game interleague series.

The Mariners made a late attempt in the series opener but dropped a 2-1 decision to fall seven games behind the Astros and 5 1/2 in back of division-rival Oakland for the second AL wild-card spot. Nelson Cruz helped Seattle avoid being shut out by belting his team-leading 32nd home run in the ninth inning, but the club went on to fall to 2-2 on its nine-game road trip. Travis Jankowski belted a solo homer and Hunter Renfroe added an RBI single for the Padres, who halted their five-game side with just their third win in 14 contests. Renfroe has gone 8-for-21 with two homers and four RBIs during his five-game hitting streak while Wil Myers has posted back-to-back two-hit performances after notching two of San Diego’s five hits on Tuesday.

TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (1-2, 4.56 ERA) vs. Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (6-7, 3.74)

Ramirez is coming off his first win in five outings this season, a victory at Arizona on Friday in which he allowed three runs – one earned – and six hits over six innings. The 28-year-old Nicaraguan, who is on his second tour of duty with Seattle after spending the first three seasons of his career with the club, has made four of his five starts on the road. Ramirez is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts and one relief appearance against San Diego.

Lucchesi settled for a no-decision at Colorado on Thursday after giving up just two runs and five hits in six innings. The 25-year-old Californian rookie has allowed fewer than three earned runs in three of his last four turns but has recorded just one victory in that span. Lucchesi, who has yet to face Seattle, has gone 0-1 while yielding four runs over 5 2/3 frames in two interleague starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres 2B Luis Urias, one of the top prospects in baseball, went 0-for-3 with a walk on Tuesday in his major-league debut.

2. Seattle purchased the contract of Shawn Armstrong from Triple-A Tacoma and optioned fellow RHP Nick Rumbelow to Double-A Arkansas.

3. In addition to purchasing the contract of Urias from Triple-A El Paso, San Diego activated RHP Colten Brewer (oblique) from the 10-day disabled list while placing LHP Clayton Richard (knee), who requires season-ending surgery, on the 10-day DL and optioning 2B Carlos Asuaje to the Chihuahuas.

PREDICTION: Mariners 7, Padres 3