Baltimore @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2012 ) Baltimore 10, Seattle 4
The Baltimore Orioles continue to place pressure on the New York Yankees in the American League East while also maintaining a hold on one of the league’s two wild-card berths. Baltimore seeks a second straight victory over host Seattle on Tuesday after routing the Mariners 10-4 in the opener to move one-half game behind the Yankees. The Orioles are three games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels in the wild-card race. Seattle is 1-6 against Baltimore this season.
The Orioles haven’t made the postseason since 1997 and sit 19 games over .500 with 15 contests remaining. Baltimore has rolled up 19 runs and 28 hits over its last two games, which includes a victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. The Orioles have scored eight or more runs six times this month. Seattle is closing in on its third straight losing campaign. The Mariners had scored three runs or less in 11 straight losses and were on track for a 12th until John Jaso hit a two-run ninth-inning homer Monday.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Baltimore), Root Sports (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Wei-Yin Chen (12-9, 4.00 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (1-2, 3.49)
Chen is 0-2 during a four-start winless streak. He retired the first 19 Seattle batters July 3 but ended up with a no-decision despite allowing two runs, two hits and striking out nine in 7 1/3 innings. Chen is 6-4 with a 4.17 ERA in 13 road starts. He took a no-decision against the Tampa Bay Rays in his last outing when he gave up two runs and eight hits in 7 1/3 innings.
Ramirez picked up his first major-league victory in his last outing when he held the Toronto Blue Jays to two runs and six hits in seven innings. The win came in his first big-league start since June. Ramirez has never faced the Orioles.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles DH Jim Thome (neck) participated in a simulated game in Florida on Monday and could return later this week.
2. Mariners OF Casper Wells has missed three straight games because of a stiff neck.
3. Baltimore OF Adam Jones is batting .325 in 40 career games against the Mariners, the organization that drafted him in 2003.