Baltimore @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2018 ) Baltimore 1, Seattle 2

The Seattle Mariners look to improve to 6-0 against lowly Baltimore this season when they host the Orioles on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Seattle continued its season mastery of the Orioles with a series-opening 2-1 victory on Monday that represents its 15th triumph in the last 20 meetings between the clubs.

The win was just the Mariners' third in eight contests and allowed them to remain 5 1/2 games behind Oakland for the American League's second wild-card spot. Seattle recorded just five hits in Monday's victory - Baltimore managed only three - with Dee Gordon's fifth-inning sacrifice fly producing the decisive run. The Orioles (40-98) have dropped four straight games and 12 of their last 15 as they are two defeats away from their first 100-loss campaign since going 54-107 in 1988. Jonathan Villar homered for Baltimore on Monday and has gone deep in consecutive games.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Alex Cobb (4-15, 5.11 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Wade LeBlanc (8-3, 3.71)

Cobb is tied with James Shields of the Chicago White Sox for the most losses in the major leagues but is a solid 2-1 over his last five starts. The 31-year-old gave up a total of six runs over 29 innings in the first four of those turns before allowing five - and eight hits - over 5 2/3 frames in a no-decision against Toronto in his last outing. Cobb surrendered five runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision against the Mariners on June 27 and is 2-4 with a 7.14 ERA in eight career outings versus the club.

LeBlanc defeated the Athletics in his last start as he scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings. The 34-year-old has served up 21 homers in 135 2/3 frames, with 15 coming at pitcher-friendly Safeco Field. LeBlanc is 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) against the Orioles and did not factor in the decision when matched up against Cobb in late June after yielding four runs - three earned - and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles 1B Chris Davis (illness) was a late lineup scratch for the series opener and is questionable for Tuesday.

2. Seattle DH Nelson Cruz is two RBIs away from reaching 1,000 for his career.

3. Baltimore recalled C Chance Sisco and RHP Jimmy Yacabonis from Triple-A Norfolk.

PREDICTION: Mariners 8, Orioles 0