Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners Preview and Predictions 09-04-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 4th September 2018 by Gracenote
Orioles vs. Mariners Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 09/04/2018
The Seattle Mariners look to improve to 6-0 against lowly Baltimore this season when they host the Orioles on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Seattle continued its season mastery of the Orioles with a series-opening 2-1 victory on Monday that represents its 15th triumph in the last 20 meetings between the clubs.
The win was just the Mariners' third in eight contests and allowed them to remain 5 1/2 games behind Oakland for the American League's second wild-card spot. Seattle recorded just five hits in Monday's victory - Baltimore managed only three - with Dee Gordon's fifth-inning sacrifice fly producing the decisive run. The Orioles (40-98) have dropped four straight games and 12 of their last 15 as they are two defeats away from their first 100-loss campaign since going 54-107 in 1988. Jonathan Villar homered for Baltimore on Monday and has gone deep in consecutive games.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Alex Cobb (4-15, 5.11 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Wade LeBlanc (8-3, 3.71)
Cobb is tied with James Shields of the Chicago White Sox for the most losses in the major leagues but is a solid 2-1 over his last five starts. The 31-year-old gave up a total of six runs over 29 innings in the first four of those turns before allowing five - and eight hits - over 5 2/3 frames in a no-decision against Toronto in his last outing. Cobb surrendered five runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision against the Mariners on June 27 and is 2-4 with a 7.14 ERA in eight career outings versus the club.
LeBlanc defeated the Athletics in his last start as he scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings. The 34-year-old has served up 21 homers in 135 2/3 frames, with 15 coming at pitcher-friendly Safeco Field. LeBlanc is 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) against the Orioles and did not factor in the decision when matched up against Cobb in late June after yielding four runs - three earned - and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles 1B Chris Davis (illness) was a late lineup scratch for the series opener and is questionable for Tuesday.
2. Seattle DH Nelson Cruz is two RBIs away from reaching 1,000 for his career.
3. Baltimore recalled C Chance Sisco and RHP Jimmy Yacabonis from Triple-A Norfolk.
PREDICTION: Mariners 8, Orioles 0
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New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview and Predictions 09-04-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 4th September 2018 by Gracenote
Mets vs. Dodgers Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 09/04/2018
The Los Angeles Dodgers fell out of first place with a series-opening loss and look to bounce back when they host the New York Mets on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Brandon Nimmo hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the ninth inning as the Mets posted a 4-2 victory on Monday.
The Dodgers fell one-half game behind first-place Colorado in the National League West despite losing for just the second time in 10 contests. Los Angeles is struggling to score runs, producing three or fewer in six straight games and 15 overall during that span. New York has won four of its last five contests and is 34-35 on the road despite being 13 games below .500 overall. Amed Rosario recorded three hits in the series opener and is 12-for-29 with three stolen bases during his six-game hitting streak.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), SportsNet LA, KTLA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jason Vargas (5-8, 6.56 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Rich Hill (6-5, 3.59)
Vargas has won three consecutive starts, allowing just three runs and 13 hits over 16 2/3 innings during that span. The 35-year-old is 3-4 with a 7.36 ERA on the road, with two of those victories coming during his recent hot stretch. Vargas is 2-2 with a 4.39 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers but hasn't faced them since giving up two runs over seven frames in a victory on May 30, 2013 while with the Los Angeles Angels.
Hill won four consecutive decisions before falling to Arizona in his last outing, when he gave up three runs and six hits over five innings. The 38-year-old has experienced consistency issues with his command as he has issued fewer than two walks in five of his last eight starts and four of more in each of the other three. Hill allowed four runs and five hits over five innings in a no-decision against the Mets on June 24 and is 1-2 with a 7.83 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) versus the club.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Dodgers are considering leaving RHP Kenley Jansen home when they visit the Rockies later this week after the 30-year-old experienced his second irregular heartbeat episode (the other in 2012) in the mile-high altitude of Denver last month.
2. New York RF-1B Jay Bruce has gone without a homer or RBI in nine straight games since belting a two-run shot against Washington on Aug. 24 in his first contest following a two-month absence due to a hip injury.
3. Los Angeles SS Manny Machado went 2-for-4 on Monday after being hitless in 10 at-bats over his previous three games.
PREDICTION: Mets 5, Dodgers 3
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