O’s to extend Mariners’ road rut?
The Mariners remain the best road team in the American League, but are cracks beginning to show in the armor?
Baltimore hopes to extend Seattle’s brief rough stretch a bit further in tonight’s series opener, with a 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch at Camden Yards. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI like Buck Showalter’s club here. The M’s, on the other hand, enter as +107 underdogs.
Over the weekend, Scott Servais’ squad received an unexpected reality check from the Angels. Los Angeles swept the Mariners, whose bullpen proved highly combustible in California. Still, they remain 13-6 away from Safeco Field and are averaging 5.2 runs in those contests.
Much of the credit goes to Robinson Cano. The second baseman just saw a 13-game hitting streak come to a close on Sunday, but he adores facing the Orioles. In 82 career meetings with the franchise, he sports a .362 average with 15 homers.
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In short, Ubaldo Jimenez (2-3, 4.87 ERA) may simply want to work around Seattle’s No. 3 hitter in several hours. The righty permitted four earned runs on nine hits and walked four in five-plus innings last week against Detroit. In fact, Jimenez boasts only two appearances this season in which he has issued fewer than three free passes.
Of course, the Orioles’ offense is not to be scoffed at either. The Mariners’ Wade Miley (3-2, 4.91) must prepare himself for Adam Jones and Manny Machado, the latter of whom is exceptionally hot at the moment. Baltimore’s All-Star at the hot corner boasts 11 of the group’s MLB-best 55 dingers, and few can do better than his .370 mark at home. Bank on him to ensure that the M’s stay in a mini-tailspin.
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