Sweep in Seattle?
A home sweep of the Seattle Mariners helped contribute to the Baltimore Orioles’ strong start.
The Orioles hope for similar success when they open a three-game road set against the Mariners on Tuesday night.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Seattle –148 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 8 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 92% of bets for this game have been placed on Seattle –148 (View MLB Bet Percentages). Bet this game.
Baltimore (11-8) won six in a row after dropping its season opener to Tampa Bay with four of those victories coming against Seattle (10-10) from April 4-7.
The Orioles scored 21 runs in that series while the Mariners hit .203 in the four games.
Though the Orioles are 5-7 since that winning stretch and 2-4 on the road overall, they took two of three from the New York Yankees over the weekend despite losing 7-1 in the series finale Sunday.
"We won two out of three," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley told the Orioles’ official Web site of his team, which plays 17 of its next 20 on the road. "We got some big hits from a lot of guys in the lineup. Our starting pitchers got us deep in the game all three times."
Jay Payton had two hits and Brian Roberts drove in the only run Sunday as the Orioles had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Luke Scott went 0-for-4 to end his seven-game hitting streak. Scott went 7-for-10 versus Seattle earlier in the month.
Closer George Sherrill recorded three of his six saves against Seattle, but gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning Sunday. The former Mariner, who came to Baltimore with outfielder Adam Jones in the trade that sent Erik Bedard to Seattle, returns to Safeco Field along with Jones for the first time since the deal.
"I’m just waiting to see how I get received," Sherrill said. "Usually, they’re pretty good about it – unless you choose to leave them."
Jeremy Guthrie (0-1, 4.38 ERA) takes the ball for the Orioles on Tuesday. He hasn’t received a decision in his last three starts and allowed three earned runs and six hits over six innings in a 6-5 10-inning win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.
The right-hander, who is 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in three starts against the Mariners, allowed two runs in seven innings, but didn’t earn a decision in a 3-2 win over Seattle on April 6.
The Orioles, who went 2-4 at Seattle in 2007, missed the Mariners’ Felix Hernandez earlier this month, but won’t be so fortunate this time.
With Bedard sidelined due to a hip injury, Hernandez (2-0, 1.47) has picked up the slack and will try for his third consecutive win Tuesday.
The right-hander, who allowed an earned run and eight hits while going the distance for a 4-2 win at Oakland on Wednesday, is 3-2 with a 4.57 ERA in seven starts against the Orioles.
Seattle might have closer J.J. Putz available for the series opener. He’s been out since April 2 because of inflammation in cartilage on his right side, but could be activated from the disabled list Tuesday.
"You want to be out there because that’s your job, and I want to get back as soon as I can," said Putz, who’s converted one of two save chances this season after posting 40 saves in 2007. "But at the same time, we have to be patient with everything and not rush it."
Richie Sexson is a home run shy of 300 after going deep for the third time in three games as the Mariners won 4-2 at the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday to avoid being swept.
The first baseman went 4-for-12 with a homer and three RBIs at Baltimore earlier this month.