One week after watching the Seattle Mariners sabotage their chances of winning the American League West, the Oakland Athletics get a chance to return the favor when they visit the Mariners for a critical three-game series that begins Monday night.

Thanks in large part to a four-game sweep in Oakland at the beginning of last week, the Mariners (86-70) have overtaken the A's (85-71) in their duel for second place in the AL West and, more important, their pursuit of an AL wild-card spot.

The chances of the Mariners or the A's catching the West-leading Houston Astros (91-65) are remote. In fact, a Seattle win on Monday would formally eliminate the A's.