After taking three games of a four-game set against the Detroit Tigers, the O’s will look to carry their great run of form into the final series of their current home stand against the visiting Seattle Mariners.
The Orioles (23-13) are flying high as we head into mid-May, and after winning seven of their last eight games and eight of their last ten, the O’s head into the clash against the Mariners in a two-way tie for first place with the Boston Red Sox (24-14) in the AL East. The O’s will also look to continue their dominant run at home this season in which they have complied an MLB-best 16-6 record on the year.
In the opposing dugout, the Mariners (21-16) head into Baltimore looking like formidable playoff contenders in the early stages of the campaign and are locked in a two-way tie for first place in the AL West with the Texas Rangers (22-17). While the Emerald City visitors head into the series on a three-game skid, they are still .500 over their last ten games and boast an AL-best road record, at 13-6 away from Safeco Field.
Now, let’s take a glance at the projected starters:
Ubaldo Jimenez (2-3, 4.87 ERA) is set to square off against Mariners southpaw Wade Miley (3-2, 4.91 ERA) in the series opener on Tuesday.
Over five career starts against Seattle, Jimenez is 2-1 with a 4.02 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 31.1 innings. However, Jimenez’s last start against the M’s came on July 22nd, 2013, nearly three years ago, while he was still a member of the Indians in which he allowed two runs on five hits over 5.2 innings with four walks and six Ks in the Tribe’s 2-1 loss.
Miley, 29, surely doesn’t have fond memories of the O’s. Over three starts, the former All-Star is 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA and O’s hitters are hitting a staggering .356 off of him during that span. In his last duel versus Baltimore on June 11th, 2015, the then-Red Sox allowed five runs on nine hits over four innings with three strikeouts in the Orioles 6-5 victory. Miley’s numbers against the O’s in 2015? Two starts, 0-2 with a laughable 16.20 ERA. Bring your gloves to the yard in this one folks; it has a good chance to rain.
Chris Tillman (5-1, 2.58 ERA) will take his golden arm into a match-up with future Mariners ace Taijuan Walker (2-2, 2.63 ERA) on Wednesday.
I don’t know if Tillman is still holding a personal vendetta against the Mariners for coughing him up in the Erik Bedard trade back in 2008, but looking at his track record I’d have to say that Tillman has gotten more than even with his former club. Over eight starts versus Seattle, the former All-Star is a perfect 6-0 with a stellar 2.98 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP while holding Seattle hitters to a .206 batting average. His last outing against the Mariners on August 11th, 2015, was probably his least memorable, in which Tillman allowed five runs on eight hits over just 2.1 innings before getting the hook in the eventual 6-5 O’s loss.
Walker, 23, has started two career games versus Baltimore but still owns a blank 0-0 record with a 5.59 ERA. In his last start against the O’s, Walker allowed just two runs on five hits over six innings with one walk and six Ks but received the no-decision in the Mariners 6-5 win on August 11th, 2015.
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Tyler Wilson (2-1, 2.93 ERA) is set to take the mound in the series finale against Nate Karns (3-1, 3.51 ERA).
Wilson, 26, comes into this series having never started against Seattle, but he did pitch one scoreless inning out of the bullpen against them in a 4-2 loss on May 20th, 2015.
But if Wilson’s latest string of results tells us anything, it’s that he will be full of confidence after recording his best start of the season versus Minnesota. Last Wednesday, he allowed just two runs on six hits over seven innings of work.
Karns, 28, is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA over four starts against the Orioles lifetime, but has impressively held the O’s hitters to just a .178 batting average during that span. In his last outing versus the O’s on May 29th, 2015, the Texas Tech alum and former Tampa Bay Ray allowed just one hit over six shutout innings with two walks and seven strikeouts but received a no-decision in the Rays’ 2-1 loss.
The O’s dynamic offense that ranks third in the AL in runs per game (4.7), second in batting average (.271) and first in HR (55) has been the main catalyst of their phenomenal start in the early goings this season. That said, they will have a tough duel on their hands in the form of the Mariners stout pitching staff that ranks second in the AL in total ERA (3.37), BAA (.233), and OBP (.301) while ranking third in Ks (321). The good news is that they avoid perennial Cy Young contender Felix Hernandez (3-3, 2.47 ERA).
On the opposite side of the spectrum, the Orioles overall pitching has been excellent over the past few weeks and comes into this match-up against the Mariners ranked third in the AL in team ERA (3.53). They’ll face a rough task in attempting to silence Seattle’s potent attack.
Seattle is led by six-time All-Star Robinson Cano (.290, 8 2B, 12 HR, 34 RBI), four-time All-Star and former Oriole slugger Nelson Cruz (.265, 7 2B, 7 HR, 21 RBI), All-Star 3B Kyle Seager (.246, 10 2B, 7 HR, 21 RBI), 33-year-old slugger Seth Smith (.247, 4 HR, 14 RBI) and the switch-hitting and slick-fielding shortstop Ketel Marte (.281, 7 2B, 1 HR, 13 RBI). The Mariners high-flying attack heads into Baltimore ranked seventh in runs per game (4.4) and third In HR (50) with a .245 team batting average (T-9th).
Also in this match-up, we will get to see two of the AL’s finest bullpen’s in action over the next three games at Camden Yards. The O’s relievers rank sixth in OBP (.300), fifth in BAA (.225) and lead the AL with a sparkling 2.32 ERA, but the Mariners also happen to have a pretty nasty ‘pen in the Emerald City.
Led by 29-year-old shutdown closer Steve Cishek (2-3, 11 saves, 3.10 ERA), 29-year-old set-up man Nick Vincent (2-1, 1.72 ERA, 0.77 WHIP), and southpaws Vidal Nuno (14 games, 1.69 ERA, 1.13 WHIP) and Mike Montgomery (1-0, 2.29 ERA, 0.92 WHIP), Seattle’s bullpen ranks fourth in total ERA (2.92) and leads the AL in BAA (.200) and OBP (.278).
Ladies and gentleman, this should be an enthralling series to watch as both teams are playing excellent baseball this season. If I had the chance, I’d be trying to make it to the yard this week!
The Orioles have had the Mariners’ number in recent times, going 22-12 against their Emerald City visitors since the start of the 2011 season, highlighted by going 8-1 against the Mariners in 2012 and 5-2 against them in 2014.
Here’s to continuing that trend in 2016!
