The Orioles continue their six-game road trip tonight as they face Seattle in a clash between American League division leaders. With a win, the Orioles (54-31) could secure a series victory over Seattle (47-40).
In last night’s series opener, the Orioles achieved a 2-0 victory thanks to right-hander Grayson Rodriguez and three relievers combining for a two-hit shutout. Rodriguez pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up two hits and four walks while striking out eight. He threw 104 pitches, just three shy of his season high, and improved his record to 10-3 with a 3.45 ERA.
Rodriguez has been exceptional against Seattle this season, throwing 12 1/3 scoreless innings in two starts, allowing only three hits for an .079 average against, with seven walks and 15 strikeouts.
Rodriguez’s eighth quality start of the season contributes to the Orioles’ 11-4 record in his 15 starts. He becomes the third Orioles pitcher aged 24 or younger to record 10 wins in their first 15 starts of a season, joining Wally Bunker (1964) and Jim Palmer (1969).
The Orioles’ win last night marked their seventh shutout of the season. They previously had four shutouts in their first 32 games but have now recorded three in their last 23 games. The team ranks third in the American League with seven shutouts, tied with the Yankees and behind Boston, Cleveland, Seattle, and Texas, who each have eight.
The Orioles’ team ERA stands at 3.40, leading the AL and ranking third in the majors, with Seattle close behind at 3.56, ranking third in the league and sixth in the majors. The Orioles’ rotation ERA is 3.32, the best in the AL and second in the majors, while their bullpen ERA of 3.53 ranks third in the AL and ninth in the big leagues. The starting pitchers have allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of their last six games.
Thanks to their strong pitching, the Orioles have improved to 4-8 when scoring exactly two runs this season, having won two such games in the past four days, including victories over Texas and Seattle.
After a five-game losing streak, the Orioles are on a 5-1 run and began today’s games leading the AL East by one game over the Yankees.
Tuesday’s two-hitter was the Orioles’ fifth of the season and their first since June 8. They also have one one-hitter from May 26 against the White Sox.
Seattle has lost three consecutive games and six of its last eight. The Orioles are 3-1 against Seattle this season, allowing just nine runs in four games with a 2.00 team ERA, a .202 opponent batting average, and a .579 OPS against. They’ve given up only one home run to the Mariners so far.
Right-hander Dean Kremer (3-4, 4.32 ERA) returns to the active roster tonight and will make his first start since May 20 due to a right triceps strain. Kremer has made nine starts this season, allowing 33 hits and 18 walks over 50 innings with a 1.120 WHIP and 49 strikeouts. He is 2-2 with a 3.21 ERA in five road starts. In Triple-A rehab starts, he allowed 14 runs (11 earned) on 15 hits over 8 2/3 innings.
Seattle’s Logan Gilbert (5-4, 2.72 ERA), a 2018 first-round pick, will be the Orioles’ latest challenge. Gilbert has thrown 112 1/3 innings this season with a 0.881 WHIP, .195 batting average against, and .575 OPS. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his five June starts, going 2-1 with a 1.51 ERA. Gilbert leads the AL in WHIP, ranks second in innings, third in opponent OPS, sixth in ERA, and eighth in walks per nine innings. He has a 1-0 record and a 1.29 ERA in one career start against the Orioles.
