Mariners at Orioles
James Paxton looks to move on from back-to-back bumpy starts when his Seattle Mariners visit the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday for the second contest of their four-game series. Paxton has been roughed up for 10 runs and 14 hits - three homers - over 7 1/3 innings while losing one outing and escaping with a no-decision in the other.
Paxton won six straight decisions before falling to the New York Yankees in his last turn and will aim to help Seattle defeat the Orioles for the second straight night. The Mariners won for only the second time in eight games with Monday's 5-3 victory and got back shortstop Jean Segura, who went hitless in four at-bats, after a four-game absence due to a right forearm infection. Dee Gordon recorded two hits and two RBIs while Denard Span homered for Seattle, which sent struggling Baltimore to its 13th defeat in 17 games. Orioles star Manny Machado notched two of his team's four hits in the opener and Jonathan Schoop belted his eighth homer of the campaign.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH James Paxton (6-2, 3.72 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (3-6, 4.38)
Paxton struck out nine over five innings in the loss to New York but served up two homers while allowing four runs and seven hits. The 29-year-old is 2-1 with a 5.73 ERA in four starts this month after being spectacular in May, when he gave up just 21 hits in 43 frames while going 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA and 0.70 WHIP. Paxton is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts versus the Orioles, with the win coming when he gave up four runs - three earned - and nine hits over 5 2/3 innings on July 2, 2016.
Gausman is 0-4 over his last seven starts, allowing five or more earned runs in three of the setbacks. The 27-year-old settled for a no-decision against Washington in his last turn after giving up just two runs and four hits over six innings. Gausman is 1-2 with a 3.04 ERA in four career starts against the Mariners and has experienced difficulties with Span (6-for-13, three doubles).
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners DH Nelson Cruz was named American League Player of the Week after hitting .500 with three homers and eight RBIs in 24 at-bats.
2. Baltimore activated INF Tim Beckham (core muscle surgery) from the 60-day disabled list, optioned LHP Donnie Hart to Triple-A Norfolk and transferred INF Luis Sardinas (ankle) to the 60-day DL.
3. Seattle C Mike Zunino sat out the series opener with a swollen right thumb.