Jump to content

The Seattle series, June 30 - July 3

Frobby

By Frobby
in Orioles Talk

Recommended Posts

Frobby Hangout Grand Counsel

Frobby

Posted
Posted

The O's come into Seattle as hot as they can be, winners of 7 straight and 19-8 in June, scoring 6.74 runs/game this month and tying the June homer record with one game to play. The Mariners are treading water, 39-39 and 9-18 in June. Here are the pitching matchups:

Tillman (10-1, 3.52) vs. Walker (3-6, 3.45)

Gausman (1-5, 3.93) vs. LeBlanc (0-0, 0.00)

Wilson (4-5, 4.50) vs. Paxton (1-3, 4.15)

Jimenez (5-7, 6.63) vs. Iwakuma (7-6, 4.34)

Taijuan Walker tends to be a feast or famine pitcher in his last six starts, he allowed a total of 1 run in three of the games, and 14 runs in the other three. He faced us on May 18, allowing 4 runs in 5 IP and losing 5-2. In three starts against us, he's 0-1 with a 5.52 ERA. Still, he's capable of shutdown games. Tillman has been a bit uneven lately and was hit hard his last time out. However, he has always been deadly against the team that traded him to the O's. He beat Walker in that May 18 game, allowing 2 R in 6.1 IP. For his career, he is 7-0 with a 2.96 ERA against the Mariners.

Wade LeBlanc started this year in AAA Buffalo, where he was dominating, and was called up by Seattle last week, throwing 6 shutout innings in his first outing. He has only pitched one game against the Orioles, and that was in 2010 when he pitched 6.1 innings and allowed 1 run, hardly relevant to tonight's game. Gausman had a bit of a rough June until dominating Tampa last Saturday in 7.2 shutout innings. He has never faced Seattle. So, this game is kind of an intriguing mystery.

James Paxton began the year in Tacoma, where he was just so-so, and was called back to the majors on June 1. This will be his 7th start, and he has been inconsistent. He hasn't faced the O's this year, and has one career start against them, allowing 2 runs in 4.1 IP. Wilson has been spotty for the O's of late. He lost to the Mariners on May 19, allowing 5 runs in 6 IP, 3 of which were scored in Wilson's final inning. He had one scoreless inning in relief against them last year.

Hisashi Iwakuma is having a middling season and a middling June. We haven't seen him this year, but he has been tough on us in the past, 1-2 with a 2.51 ERA. He usually gets deep into games and we will need to be patient with him. Jimenez was horrible up though mid-June, but managed two straight credible outings against the Padres. He got shelled by Seattle on May 17, allowing 6 R in 4.1 IP. In his career he is 2-2 with a 5.05 ERA against them.

Seattle has a power offense that is 6th in runs scored and 3rd in homers despite playing in a pitcher's park. They have six players in double digits in homers -- Cruz (20), Cano (19), Seager (15), Lind (11), Leonsys Martin (11) and Dae-ho Lee (10). The team has a healthy 107 OPS+. Their bullpen is also very solid, 5th in the league in ERA at 3.27 (we are 2nd at 3.15), so it won't be as easy to erase deficits as it has been against some of the weaker bullpens we've seen lately.

Bottom line, this is a deceptively even series. The Mariners have underperformed their Pythag considerably, and we've overperformed ours. The Mariners beat us 2 out of 3 in Baltimore in mid-May. I think our bats will need to stay hot to win this series, because the Mariners can score.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 35
  • Created
  • Last Reply
Aristotelian Hangout Grand Counsel

Aristotelian

Posted
Posted

Seattle looked really good against us in the first series, although the difference in the series was a long wind-swept opposite field popup by Lind that somehow barely made it over the wall, helped by an awkward jump by Rickard. They have a lefty-heavy lineup (Cano, Seager, Smith, Lind, and Aoki, plus the righty Cruz) that matches up well against our RHP rotation and bullpen. Their lineup is going to wear out our pitchers and our guys will have to stay engaged with every pitch, no mistakes. I know the M's are not playing as well right now although I have not followed them closely enough to know why.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
esmd All-Star

esmd

Posted
Posted

Tillman seems to always pitch well against Seattle, so there's that. Gausman, for as uneven as he's been and as much as a lot of posters here get on him, has an ERA under 4.00. Not too shabby in this day and age. Wilson and Jimenez are a crap shoot. The winning streak has to end sometime, but I'm hoping for a split at worst. 3 or 4 would be sweet!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Frobby Hangout Grand Counsel

Frobby

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I should have mentioned, LeBlanc was acquired from Toronto last week for a PTBNL or cash considerations. He's a bit of a journeyman (6 teams in 9 years), but threw to a 1.71 ERA in 14 starts at Buffalo before the trade.

Both LeBlanc and Paxton are lefties.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Redskins Rick Hangout Grand Counsel

Redskins Rick

Posted
Posted
Tillman seems to always pitch well against Seattle, so there's that. Gausman, for as uneven as he's been and as much as a lot of posters here get on him, has an ERA under 4.00. Not too shabby in this day and age. Wilson and Jimenez are a crap shoot. The winning streak has to end sometime, but I'm hoping for a split at worst. 3 or 4 would be sweet!

Not hard to figure out his motivation factor. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ShaneDawg85 Hangout Veteran Council

ShaneDawg85

Posted
Posted

Always satisfied with a split in a four game series, and I honestly wouldn't be shocked or horribly disappointed losing 3/4. Games in Safeco always seem to be low scoring or we don't score at all. It's always a tough series against Seattle, hopefully we at least get the split.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
OregonBird Major Leaguer

OregonBird

Posted
Posted

I can't wait to get there on Saturday, my little boys are so excited. We will be right behind the O's dugout, you can't miss my O's Hawaiian shirt. I've got to figure out my hat game though. Maybe we will be on camera again this year.

I'm a little bummed that I get Wilson and Jimenez as the SPs.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fdepascual A-Ball

fdepascual

Posted
Posted
I can't wait to get there on Saturday, my little boys are so excited. We will be right behind the O's dugout, you can't miss my O's Hawaiian shirt. I've got to figure out my hat game though. Maybe we will be on camera again this year.

I'm a little bummed that I get Wilson and Jimenez as the SPs.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Lol, I will keep my atenttion, move your hands to your forum buds

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Machado13 Major Leaguer

Machado13

Posted
Posted

This series worries me. I know Seattle is not a juggernaut but it's in the middle of always tough west coast road trip, Os giving up too many runs as the winning streak keeps going...

I would be happy with 2-2. 3-1 would be amazing going into LA. They will need to pitch better. I don't see Seattle giving up as many runs as SD did.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
sportsfan8703 Hangout Grand Counsel

sportsfan8703

Posted
Posted

Didn't Iwakuma pitch a no hitter against us last year? We'll need to revenge that. Chen was always money in SEA it felt like. Tillman needs to set the tone tonight with a good outing. Rest the pen and we'll be alright. A lefty reliever would be nice for this series, Mac has gotten hammered by LH's this year. Kim has to sit vs two LH's again. Wonder if Buck starts him one game, especially against Leblanc since Paxton throws hard.

I'm thinking 2-2. Our starters need to go deep in games with our 6th/7th relievers scuffling.

Leblanc throws a lot of cutters and has huge reverse splits. LH's mash him. http://www.fangraphs.com/statsplits.aspx?playerid=5221&position=P&season=0

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Moshagge3 Hangout Grand Counsel

Moshagge3

Posted
Posted
A lefty reliever would be nice for this series, Mac has gotten hammered by LH's this year.

That Cano-Cruz-Seager stretch of the order is going to pose a lot of difficulty. The Orioles don't have the pieces to mix and match here. Assuming the O's can get 6 innings from their starters (big assumption, I know), I hope Buck will put Brach in against those guys even if they are due up in the 7th one night and in the 8th another night. I was really hoping Oliver Drake would show something positive in his time up, because the lack of a lefty specialist has been a hole for a while.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • Jagwar
      Craig Kimbrel - Signing

      By Jagwar · Posted

      And... today's interest rates will not be here forever. I can earn 5% practically risk free in a CD, but in 2-3 years I have to renew it at who-knows-what rate. 
    • baltfan
      Elias on MLBN

      By baltfan · Posted

      Apparently he is also seeking extensions. The problem appears to be what many on this board were saying it likely was instead of a JA problem.     
    • Frobby
      Winter Meetings Thread

      By Frobby · Posted

      Looks like Eduardo Rodriguez to the DBacks for 4/$80 mm.   Two observations: - Not an unimaginable contract - So much for ERod insisting on playing on the East Coast to be closer to his family.   
    • Frobby
      Craig Kimbrel - Signing

      By Frobby · Posted

      Of course, that $250,000 per year will be worth about $50,000 in today’s money in couple of decades.    I remember my dad telling me that when he was in law school (early 1950s) he and his friends agreed that if someone guaranteed them $10,000 a year for life, they’d be set.  
    • Frobby
      Elias on MLBN

      By Frobby · Posted

      Seems like there was more to that interview.  Wish I could see the rest of it.  
    • wildcard
      Rule 5 draft loss - Connor Gillispie

      By wildcard · Posted

      Starter that would probably have been at AAA in 2024. Taken by the Guardians.  26, only 5'11".  Probably a reliever if he makes it to the majors. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gillis000con   Not taken were: Hudson Haskin, soon to be 25 year old outfielder with 60 speed, and the ability to put up a 360 OBP and a 800 OPS in both AA and AAA.  2nd round pick.  Right handed bat who might be about to back up Mullins in center a some point in 2024.  Doesn't have to be on 40 man but could be in ST.  Coming off hip surgery that shorten his 2023.   Poor arm and lack of power make him a bench player.  But a good line drive hitter.  Makes up for poor jumps and routes with his speed. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=haskin000hud Maverick Handley, will be 26 years old in March catcher that could be the O's 3rd catcher in 2024.   Had a 373 OBP at AAA last year.  Good on the base paths.   Strong arm.  Threw out 34% of base stealer last year.  Doesn't need to be on the 40 man but will be in ST.  Had 9 errors in 2024 which  is too high. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=handle000mav        
    • baltfan
      Winter Meetings Thread

      By baltfan · Posted

      He becomes a free agent at the end of the year.  It’s a one year thing.  If they are really good, it will have been worthwhile, but they could just be mediocre. 

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...