Mariners at Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles will put the majors' best home record (16-6) on the line Tuesday when they open a three-game series versus one of the league's best road clubs in the Seattle Mariners. Baltimore began its seven-game homestand with three straight victories before seeing its season-high seven-game winning streak come to an end following a 6-5 setback against Detroit on Sunday.
Adam Jones is riding high with an eight-game hitting streak, going 15-for-34 with four homers, 10 RBIs and 10 runs scored as the Orioles jockey with Boston atop the American League East. Seattle is embroiled in a similar battle with Texas in the AL West, however a three-game sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels cooled the momentum of an impressive 8-2 stretch. Robinson Cano saw his 13-game hitting streak come to a halt in Sunday's 3-0 setback to the Angels, but has enjoyed considerable success versus Tuesday starter Ubaldo Jimenez (two homers, 6-for-11) and Baltimore (.335) in his career. The Mariners are opening a six-game road trip looking to improve upon their sizzling 13-6 mark away the Pacific Northwest.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), MASN2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Wade Miley (3-2, 4.91 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Ubaldo Jimenez (2-3, 4.87)
Miley has righted the ship after a disastrous start to the 2016 season, posting a 3-0 mark with a 3.18 ERA in his last four outings following an 0-2 mark and a bloated 8.04 ERA in his previous two. While his recent results are promising, the 29-year-old was taken deep three times in a 6-4 victory over Tampa Bay on Tuesday and has allowed six homers in his last four. That doesn't bode well versus the homer-happy Orioles, against whom Miley owns an 0-2 mark with a gaudy 10.13 ERA in three career meetings.
Jimenez escaped with a no-decision on Thursday despite yielding five runs on nine hits in five innings in Baltimore's 7-5 victory over Detroit. The 32-year-old routinely has encountered issues with his control, walking four batters for the fourth time in his last six outings. Former Oriole Nelson Cruz has struggled mightily against Jimenez, going 0-for-12 with nine strikeouts in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Baltimore RF Mark Trumbo, who was acquired in an offseason deal with Seattle, is just 2-for-13 with four strikeouts in his last four games.
2. Mariners SS Ketel Marte is just 2-for-17 with four strikeouts in his last four outings.
3. Orioles 2B Jonathan Schoop is 6-for-14 with two homers and 10 RBIs in his last four contests.