Mariners vs. Orioles Preview
BALTIMORE, MD (AP) – Zach Britton didn’t think he did his job in his last outing. Rarely has the Baltimore Orioles rookie left-hander felt that way this season.
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Britton will try to match the AL lead in wins Thursday night when the Orioles go for the three-game sweep and try to hand the Seattle Mariners their fifth straight loss.
Looking to win his fourth consecutive start and become the first Orioles pitcher since Ben McDonald in 1994 to win six games by May 6, Britton (5-2, 2.93 ERA) surrendered three runs – all in the second inning – and four hits over 5 1-3 innings of Friday’s 6-2 home loss to Tampa Bay.
According to MLB odds and oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Orioles -145 money line favorites for Thursday’s game against the Mariners. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 72% of more than 102 bets for this game have been placed on the Orioles -145.
“I don’t think it’s a good outing, any way you look at it,” he said following his shortest outing of the season. “My job was to go deep in the game – I didn’t do that at all.”
Britton, though, has a chance to tie Oakland’s Trevor Cahill, Detroit right-hander Max Scherzer and Los Angeles Angels ace Jered Weaver for a league high in wins when he faces the Mariners (16-21) for the first time.
Britton will take on a Seattle team trying to avoid its first five-game skid since a season-worst 0-7 stretch April 3-10.
After losing 4-2 on Wednesday, manager Eric Wedge’s club will try to salvage the finale of this set with Jason Vargas (2-2, 4.68) seeking to win his third consecutive start after losing his previous nine decisions.
In his last outing, the left-hander went 7 2-3 innings – tied for his longest start since joining the club two years ago – and gave up one run and six hits in Thursday’s 3-1 win over Texas.
“That’s as good as I’ve seen (Vargas) throw all year,” Mariners reliever Jamey Wright told the team’s official website. “He was just in command the whole time, getting ahead of guys, and you have a lot of fun when you do that.”
Vargas, who last won three straight starts Aug. 3-14, is 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA in four starts versus Baltimore (16-19).
He shouldn’t expect much run support with the Mariners batting .223 and averaging 2.5 runs during their skid.
Adam Jones is just 2 for 12 off Vargas, but the Orioles center fielder and former Mariner is 7 for 10 with two doubles and five RBIs in this series after matching a career high with four hits Wednesday.
Baltimore’s Luke Scott could also be a tough out. The left fielder is batting .407 (11 for 27) with two homers and nine RBIs in the Mariners’ last nine road games in this matchup. Scott has two hits – including a homer – in nine at-bats against Vargas.
Felix Pie may get a second consecutive start for the Orioles in right field Thursday if Nick Markakis stays sidelined with the flu. Seattle probably wouldn’t mind if Markakis missed the game after he had three hits in the Orioles’ 7-6, 13-inning win Tuesday.
Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki will look to extend his hitting streak in Baltimore to 15 after going 2 for 5 on Wednesday. Ichiro’s .367 batting average against the Orioles is his best versus any AL team.
The Mariners, who have dropped five of seven at Camden Yards, have lost three straight road games after winning a season-best six in a row outside of Seattle.
Baltimore will try to win three in a row at home for the first time since a 4-0 stretch Sept. 19-Oct. 2.
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