Baltimore @ Seattle preview

Safeco Field

Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2013 ) Seattle 3, Baltimore 2


The Baltimore Orioles conclude their 10-game road trip against the class of the American League West with a four-game set against the Seattle Mariners beginning Thursday. Seattle holds a half-game edge for the second Wild Card spot in the American League despite going 2-4 since the All-Star break, while Baltimore has gone 13-6 since June 30 and leads the New York Yankees and Toronto by three games in the AL East. After a lengthy slump, Mariners left fielder Dustin Ackley has raised his average to .244 with four multi-hit games in his last six contests.

The Orioles are hoping third baseman Manny Machado can return after he missed the last two games due to back spasms. Ryan Flaherty has gone 1-for-7 while starting in place of Machado, who is hitting .267 with 10 homers and 23 RBIs and remains optimistic that he'll avoid a stint on the disabled list. “It’s a lot better than it being the same or worse,” manager Buck Showalter told MLB.com before Thursday's contest. “I look for him to be back shortly, depending on how you define the word shortly.”

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), ROOT (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Wei-Yin Chen (10-3, 4.21 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Hisashi Iwakuma (8-4, 2.95)

Chen won his third consecutive start last Saturday against Oakland despite allowing three runs over five innings. The 33-year-old is looking to work deeper into the game Thursday after throwing fewer than 100 pitches in each of his last five starts. Chen is 0-2 with a 4.56 ERA in four career starts against Seattle, including 0-1 with a 4.86 ERA in three outings at Safeco Field.

After struggling in his two final starts last month, Iwakuma has gone 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA in four July starts. The 29-year-old, who has issued a total of eight walks in 15 starts, exited after throwing 77 pitches in his first outing following the All-Star break. Iwakuma is facing Baltimore for the second time after allowing three runs in five innings on July 2, 2012 in his first career start.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners closer Fernando Rodney is one save away from 200 for his career.

2. The Orioles are 14-9 against AL West opponents this season.

3. Seattle 3B Kyle Seager is batting .333 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs in his last 33 games.

PREDICTION: Mariners 5, Orioles 3

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