Neither the Seattle Mariners' or the Oakland Athletic's fans have had much to cheer about this season with the teams holding the bottom-two spots in the AL West. The Mariners have the edge though sitting 3.5 games ahead of the A's and I like them in tonight's opener of a three-game series home at Safeco Field.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The A's hand the ball to Felix Doubront (1-1, 3.89 ERA) who'll make his fourth start for the club since coming over from the Blue Jays. He's still looking for his first decision as an Athletic pitcher allowing six runs (five earned) on 11 hits and seven walks in 16 2/3 innings in his first three starts. He gave up six free passes his last start and has not made it out of the sixth inning in any of his starts this season, and that does not bode well for Oakland who's bullpen has the second worst ERA in baseball this season with a 4.58 mark. The Mariners will counter with Hisashi Iwakuma (5-2, 3.74 ERA) who's 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA in four starts this month. He tossed a no-hitter against the Orioles his last start home at Safeco and held the A's to two runs over 8 2/3 innings of a 6-2 win here in Seattle last year.

2. Situational - The Mariners have won seven of 10 games against the A's this year and the A's are 3-14 in their last 17 road games. Seattle has won five of its last six as a home favorite and it's 4-1 in Iwakuma's last five starts as a favorite.

3. X-Factor - Nelson Cruz is riding an eight-game hitting streak which he's likely to extend here as he's 5-for-11 with a double in previous meetings with Doubront.

Selection: This is a play on the Seattle Mariners (8*)