Baltimore @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 8, 2012 ) Seattle 2, Baltimore 9

The Baltimore Orioles have clinched a winning record and next on the agenda is making the playoffs for the first time since 1997. The Orioles begin a three-game road series against the Seattle Mariners on Monday and can move within a half-game of the idle New York Yankees in the American League East by winning the opener. Baltimore possesses the AL’s second wild-card spot and has a 2 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels, who are also off Monday.

Seattle must go 11-4 down the stretch to avoid its third consecutive losing season. The Mariners are beginning a six-game homestand following a 3-3 road trip. Seattle has scored three runs or fewer in each of its last 11 losses. Baltimore salvaged the finale of a three-game set against Oakland on Sunday as catcher Matt Wieters hit two homers to raise his season count to 21, one shy of his career-best total set last year. The Orioles are 27-8 in one-run games, the best mark in the majors.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Baltimore), ROOT (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Chris Tillman (7-2, 3.39 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Hector Noesi (2-11, 5.54)

Tillman returns to the rotation after missing a start. Elbow inflammation forced him out of a Sept. 2 start against the New York Yankees after three innings. Tillman has dominated the Mariners twice this season and has allowed just one earned run and seven hits in 15 2/3 innings in the two victories. He is 4-1 with a 3.26 ERA in six road starts this season.

Noesi is making his first major-league start since July 4, when he lost to the Orioles while allowing four runs and seven hits in five innings. The loss was his eighth straight and he was demoted to Triple-A Tacoma. He has made two September relief appearances since returning to the majors.

WALK-OFFS

1. Baltimore 2B Robert Andino had two hits Sunday but is batting just .149 (7-for-47) in September.

2. Mariners 1B Justin Smoak is 5-for-7 with two homers over the past two games to raise his average to .199. He is hitless in five at-bats against Tillman.

3. Orioles 1B Mark Reynolds is batting .184 with three homers in 14 career games against Seattle.