Baltimore @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2018 ) Baltimore 5, Seattle 3

The Seattle Mariners displayed more fight before the game than during it in their latest setback and look to rebound on Wednesday, when they host the Baltimore Orioles for the finale of their three-game series. According to reports, infielders Dee Gordon and Jean Segura and catcher Mike Zunino were among the combatants in a skirmish that stemmed from an error Gordon made in the field during Monday's victory.

Seattle has gone 21-30 since a torrid 56-32 start, and apparently the frustrations of the downward slide are now grating on the players. "Things happen in a clubhouse," Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters before Tuesday's 5-3 loss. "Our guys are working through it and talking through it. It's unfortunate, but it happens. Usually, there is a root problem, and you have to dig in there and find out where that's at and build back relationships from there." Seattle relievers allowed five runs over the final three innings of Tuesday's contest as the club remained 5 1/2 games behind Oakland for the American League's second wild-card spot. Baltimore snapped its four-game losing streak as it defeated the Mariners for the first time in six meetings this season.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Andrew Cashner (4-13, 4.86 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Mike Leake (8-9, 4.25)

Cashner has lost three consecutive decisions, giving up 25 hits - including four homers - in 18 1/3 innings during that stretch. The 31-year-old is 2-7 with a 5.27 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and .310 opponents' batting average in 13 road starts. Cashner is 2-4 with a 4.09 ERA in 10 career appearances (nine starts) against the Mariners, including a no-decision on June 25 in which he gave up three runs and four hits over six frames.

Leake has been roughed up for 11 runs and 18 hits over 10 1/3 innings in back-to-back losses to Arizona and Oakland. The 30-year-old is 0-5 over his last 11 turns and hasn't won since defeating Boston on June 23. Leake settled for a no-decision against the Orioles on June 28, when he allowed two runs and five hits over seven frames, and owns a 7.36 ERA in two career outings against Baltimore.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners RF Chris Haniger went 1-for-5 on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 16 games.

2. Baltimore 1B Chris Davis (illness) returned from a one-game absence and went 2-for-5 with an RBI.

3. Seattle recalled INF Gordon Beckham, RHP Casey Lawrence and 1B Daniel Vogelbach from Triple-A Tacoma.

PREDICTION: Mariners 6, Orioles 5