Baltimore Orioles series preview vs the Seattle Mariners

Following a brief two game series that ended in a split, the Orioles return to the confines of Camden Yards for a three game set against the Seattle Mariners.

Baltimore Orioles host Seattle Mariners at Camden Yards for three game series

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT

The Mariners have been straddling .500 all season, and it is no different entering this series. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games and 36-37 on the season despite a +15 run differential. They had won series against the Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox before losing two of three to the New York Yankees.

SEASON SERIES

This will be the first meeting of the two teams in 2023. The first time they met in 2022, the Mariners took two of three from the Orioles at Camden Yards at the end of May/start of June. They met again at the end of June in Seattle, with the Mariners again taking two of three to win the season series 4-2.

PITCHING PROBABLES

Friday, 6/23: Logan Gilbert vs Kyle Gibson

The big righty Gilbert gets the ball for the Mariners to open the series. He has a 4.31 ERA at this time, but that is deceiving, as a 3.60 FIP indicates. He has a 1.071 WHIP in 14 starts through this season, throwing 79 1/3 innings. He could rack up some strikeouts, as he's averaging 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Gibson will take the mound for the Orioles for what will be his 16th start of the season. He was handed in a loss in his last start, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks over six innings against the Chicago Cubs. Gibson needs just two wins to reach 100 in his career.

Saturday, 6/24: Bryce Miller vs Dean Kremer

Miller gets the start for the Mariners in the middle of a torrid start to his major league career. Through 51 1/3 innings and nine starts, the 24 year old has a 3.68 ERA, 3.12 FIP, and a very sharp 0.877 WHIP. That's Tyler Wells levels of good. He averages 1.4 walks per nine, so the Orioles lineup should get a lot of pitches in the zone.

Like Gibson, Kremer is set for start number 16 of the season. He pitched in the only win of the Cubs series for the Orioles, allowing three runs over five innings, striking out seven and getting credit for the win. His ERA is at 4.56 and his WHIP is 1.407 through 15 starts, totaling 81 innings.

Sunday, 6/25: George Kirby vs TBD

The Mariners start another youngster in Kirby for the series finale. Kirby's Sophomore season is looking like another pretty good one. The 25 year old doesn't rack up the strikeouts, as evidenced by 7.7 strikeouts per nine. However, he doesn't walk anyone either, as he's entering his 15th start of the season with 0.6 walks per nine. In 87 2/3 innings, that's pretty freakin' good.

Baltimore has not announced their starter for the final game. It could be Cole Irvin coming back to the rotation after pitching an inning out of the bullpen in the Rays series. They could also opt to go with a bullpen game, with one or both of Keegan Akin and Austin Voth playing important roles in the game.

This series is another chance for the Orioles to gain ground on the one team ahead of them in the AL East, with the Orioles just 4 1/2 games back of the Rays. There will be some fun pitching on display, so let's play ball!