The set-up: The 60-65 Chicago White Sox have fallen out of the playoff chase, sitting 12 games back of the AL West-leading Rangers, as well as falling 9 1/2 games out of the second AL wild card spot. host. A season in which Chicago opened 23-10 has turned into one in which the White Sox are playing out the string. Seattle was among the hottest teams in baseball with 15 wins in 20 games but lost the final two games of its three-game home series with the Yankees on Tuesday and Wednesday. The 67-59 Mariners will open a four-game weekend series at U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday, 6 1/2 games behind first-place Texas but also just three games outside of an AL wild card spot.

The pitching matchup: James Paxton (4-5, 3.53 ERA) is expected to start for Seattle, opposed by Chicago's Anthony Ranaudo (1-1, 9.42 ERA). Paxton will be activated from the 15-day DL (he was placed there back on August 7 with an elbow injury), after making a rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday. Paxton's last start was back on August 7 and on the season, Seattle is 4-9 in his starting assignments in 2016 (minus-$652). Ranaudo will be making his third start since being acquired from Texas and first since escaping with a no-decision at Cleveland back on August 17, when he allowed five ERs on eight hits in just five runs and eight hits in four innings. Ranaudo had made just two relief appearances with the Rangers before the trade and now, in two starts for Chicago, has allowed eight ERs on 10 hits (including four HRs) over 10 2/3 innings (6.75 ERA).

The pick: Seattle needs a good weekend in Chicago, as beginning next Monday, the Mariners begin the first of seven head-to-head games with the Rangers over an 11-day stretch. Paxton is not a shut down type pitcher but he's ‘light years' ahead of Renaudo. Seattle is an 8* play.