Orioles at Mariners
After winning back-to-back games for the first time in over a month, the Seattle Mariners look to carry that momentum into Friday when they continue their four-game series against the visiting Baltimore Orioles. Domingo Santana has homered three times in the last two games for the Mariners, who are 20-44 since opening the season with a 13-2 mark.
Santana and Omar Narvaez each homered and Roenis Elias recorded his eighth save in Thursday’s 5-2 victory as the Mariners improved to 17-6 in their last 23 meetings against Baltimore. Santana is batting .338 with six homers and 13 RBIs in his last 16 games, while Narvaez is batting .291 overall with a career-high 11 home runs and making a case for his first All-Star Game selection. Baltimore has lost a season-high nine straight games but could have outfielder Trey Mancini back in the lineup at some point this weekend after he missed Thursday’s game with a left elbow contusion. The Orioles have scored three or fewer runs in 15 of their last 21 games and could use a spark from outfielder Dwight Smith Jr., who went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his return from the 7-day concussion list on Thursday.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Sean Gilmartin (2018: 1-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Mike Leake (6-6, 4.14)
Gilmartin is a candidate to serve as the Orioles’ opener after scheduled starter John Means landed on the injured list Thursday with a left-shoulder strain. The 29-year-old is set to make his season debut after making 17 appearances (two starts) for Triple-A Norfolk and recording a 2.48 ERA with 40 strikeouts across 36 1/3 innings. Gilmartin made 12 relief appearances with the Orioles last season and posted a 15-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 27 innings.
Leake won his third straight decision last Sunday with a strong outing against Oakland, allowing three runs (two earned) with a season-high seven strikeouts over seven innings. The 31-year-old native Californian owns a 2.95 ERA in six home starts this season compared to a 4.98 mark in nine outings away from T-Mobile Park. Jonathan Villar is 5-for-12 against Leake, who is 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA in three career starts versus Baltimore.
WALK-OFFS
1. Baltimore has scored a total of 28 runs during its nine-game losing streak.
2. Seattle OF Mitch Haniger (ruptured testicle) is not expected to return until after the All-Star break.
3. The Orioles recalled Evan Phillips from Triple-A Norfolk and designated fellow RHP Dan Straily for assignment.