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Haren, Athletics set to host Mariners

Sep 17, 2007 - 1:57 PM Seattle (78-70) at Oakland (74-77) 10:05 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - Dan Haren has fallen out of the discussion for the American League Cy Young Award in recent weeks. He will look to get back on track when the Oakland Athletics host the Seattle Mariners on Monday.

Haren (14-7, 3.11 ERA), who led the American League in ERA for much of the season and started for the AL in the All-Star Game, has fallen off in the second half, going 4-4 with a 4.54 ERA since the break.

The righthander, who will be celebrating his 27th birthday on Monday, is 6-3 with a 2.97 ERA in his career against the Mariners in 11 starts, but got knocked around for 12 hits and four runs in 6 2/3 frames on Wednesday in a no-decision at Seattle.

The Mariners are in the midst of a free fall that has seen them go from leading the wild card race to 6 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees (85-64), winning just five of their last 23 contests.

Seattle will send veteran Miguel Batista (13-11, 4.67) to the hill. The righthander has not notched a win since August 17, going 0-3 over his last five starts and allowing six earned runs or more three times.

Batista has struggled against Oakland in his career, going 3-4 with a 5.71 ERA in 17 appearances - 10 starts.

The A's have won five of their last six games and are now just three games shy of .500 for the season.