Two reeling teams will do battle at Safeco Field for the opener of a three-game series Monday afternoon. The Seattle Mariners were swept by the AL-worst Twins over the weekend while the San Diego Padres have lost six of their past seven games. The Mariners are still just half a game back of the Rangers for the top spot in the AL West though and I expect a solid performance from the M's today.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Padres hand the ball to Andrew Cashner (2-4, 4.87 ERA). He missed some time with a strained right hamstring, but the right-hander was back on the mound on May 24 giving up three runs on four hits and four walks in six innings of an 8-2 loss at San Francisco. Cashner is 1-3 with a 5.49 ERA in his last four starts. The Mariners counter with Nathan Karns (4-1, 3.53) who is 4-0 with a 3.13 ERA in eight starts since losing his season debut. The Padres are 1-10 in their last 11 contests when facing a right-handed starter.

2. Situational - The Mariners have won eight of their past series-openers and they're 9-4 in their last 13 games following a loss.

3. X-Factor - Nori Aoki is 4-for-12 against Cashner and he is 8-for-19 during a five-game hitting streak.

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