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SEATTLE – Colton Cowser was reinstated from the injured list yesterday and he’s playing center field tonight and batting sixth for the series opener in Seattle.
Jackson Holliday remains the leadoff hitter.
Coby Mayo is the designated hitter, Heston Kjerstad is in right field and Dylan Carlson is in left.
Ryan O’Hearn, the cleanup hitter and first baseman, is batting .329 against right-handers and the Mariners are starting three in the series. O’Hearn’s average is tied for fourth-highest among left-handed hitters versus right-handers in a minimum 100 plate appearances.
Tomoyuki Sugano has posted a 3.23 ERA and 1.063 WHIP in 11 starts. He’s got a 3.67 ERA and 1.223 WHIP in six home games and a 2.73 ERA and 0.876 WHIP in five road games.
Sugano has allowed four runs or fewer in each of first 11 starts, the longest streak by a non-U.S. born pitcher to begin his career in franchise history.
The rotation posted a 5.87 ERA in the first 50 games and has a 2.09 ERA in the last eight. Per STATS, it’s the lowest rotation ERA from the Orioles in an eight-game span since last June (2.08).
The 88 home runs allowed by the Orioles rank second in the majors behind the Athletics’ 91. But they’ve permitted only six in the last eight games.
The Orioles won two of three games from the Mariners in Baltimore last season and two of three in Seattle. They’ve claimed the last four series between the teams and won eight of the last 11 games.
Their last series win streak against the Mariners of more than four was in 2003-05.
Can the Orioles stay hot? Their recent stretch qualifies with six wins in their last eight games.
A win tonight would put them 13 games below .500 for the first time since May 16.
Catcher Chadwick Tromp declined an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk, elected free agency, signed a minor league deal with the Orioles and is on the taxi squad tonight.
Norfolk right-hander Brandon Young (shoulder) is beginning a rehab assignment with High-A Aberdeen. Right-hander Trey Gibson moves up from Aberdeen to Double-A Chesapeake.
George Kirby has made two starts since being reinstated from the injured list, and he’s allowed 11 runs and 13 hits in 8 2/3 innings. His season debut was delayed by right shoulder inflammation. He posted a 7.20 ERA over three rehab starts with Triple-A Tacoma.
Kirby, an All-Star in 2023 and 14-game winner with a 3.53 ERA in 33 starts last season, has a career 3.82 ERA and 1.115 WHIP in six starts against the Orioles.
Gunnar Henderson is 4-for-10 with a double and home run against Henderson. O’Hearn is 2-for-12, and Adley Rutschman is 2-for-13 with a home run. Rutschman is batting second again tonight.
Seattle right-handers have combined to pitch 501 1/3 innings this season, the most in the majors, per STATS.
The Mariners are in first place in the American League West, leading the Astros by a half-game. They’ve won their last two, both via walk-offs, but are 4-6 in their last 10.
Catcher Cal Raleigh is tied for the major league lead with 23 home runs and he’s posted a 1.016 OPS in 58 games. His home run total is tied with current Oriole Gary Sánchez and former Oriole Javy López for most by a catcher through 60 games since 1901, per STATS.
Also from STATS: Raleigh leads the Mariners in home runs, RBIs, walks and runs scored. The only catcher (based on season primary position) to lead his team in all those categories since RBIs were first tracked in 1920 was the Dodgers’ Joe Ferguson in 1973.
No. 3 prospect Cole Young made his debut over the weekend and had a walk-off RBI on Saturday.
Seattle’s 3.86 ERA ranks eighth in the American League and 15th in the majors.
For the Orioles
Jackson Holliday 2B
Adley Rutschman C
Gunnar Henderson SS
Ryan O’Hearn 1B
Ramón Urías 3B
Colton Cowser CF
Coby Mayo DH
Heston Kjerstad RF
Dylan Carlson LF
Tomoyuki Sugano RHP
For the Mariners
J.P. Crawford SS
Jorge Polanco DH
Julio Rodríguez CF
Cal Raleigh C
Randy Arozarena LF
Rowdy Tellez 1B
Leody Taveras RF
Cole Young 2B
Ben Williamson 3B
George Kirby RHP
