Baltimore @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 30, 2013 ) Baltimore 7, Seattle 2

The Baltimore Orioles got back to beating Seattle on Tuesday and attempt to do so again in Wednesday’s series finale against the host Mariners. Baltimore lost Monday’s opener before rebounding Tuesday to improve to 9-2 against Seattle over the past two seasons. The Orioles are 4-2 on an 11-game West Coast trip that ends Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels. Seattle went 12-17 in April, its lowest win count in the month since going 8-15 in 2004.

Mariners outfielder Michael Morse has rediscovered his power stroke with two homers in three days to raise his team-leading count to eight. Morse clubbed six in his first nine games with Seattle before breaking his right pinkie. He went 11 games without a homer upon returning before going deep against the Angels on Sunday. Baltimore outfielder Nate McLouth started Tuesday’s 7-2 victory with a homer and he has been swinging a hot bat. McLouth is batting .485 with 14 runs scored over the last nine games.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network 2 (Baltimore), ROOT Sports (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Wei-Yin Chen (2-2, 2.53 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Aaron Harang (0-3, 11.37)

Chen was masterful in his last outing when he tossed eight innings of two-hit shutout ball to defeat Oakland. It was his second straight win and he has allowed one run and five hits in 14 innings during the stretch. Chen had a 2.84 ERA in two starts against Seattle last season, including an outing in which he retired the first 19 Mariners he faced in a no-decision.

Harang has been roughed up in each of his last two outings. He has allowed 13 runs and 14 hits – including five homers – in 7 2/3 innings during that span. Opposing hitters are batting .362 and have bashed six homers off him in 12 2/3 innings. Harang lost his lone career start against Baltimore in 2005 despite striking out 10 in seven innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles OF Chris Dickerson drew his third start of the season Tuesday and went 3-for-5 with two RBIs.

2. Seattle 2B Dustin Ackley went 2-for-4 on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.

3. McLouth is batting .111 in 27 career at-bats against Harang.

PREDICTION: Orioles 11, Mariners 2