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Whether you like it or not, the Orioles and Mariners are set for another doubleheader with seven-inning games on Thursday afternoon. They last played one two days ago, and there was a lot of excitement packed into those games, with the O’s tying one game late before losing in extra innings, then blowing the other game late before getting a walkoff in the bottom of the seventh.
Not a bad way to get your money’s worth out of two games for the price of one. A similar level of excitement is not guaranteed today, but we’ll see how it goes. There is the added wrinkle that this doubleheader will be played on “getaway day”, with both the O’s and M’s headed for other time zones. Seattle returns home, while the O’s head to Texas.
The most interesting thing for me in this doubleheader is probably going to be whether Cedric Mullins can manage to keep his hitting streak rolling through a pair of seven inning games. It helps when you’re the leadoff hitter and are guaranteed the most chances to bat. Mullins kept it going on Tuesday, extending the streak to 15 straight games dating to last season, and 11 straight games to begin this season.
MASN’s Steve Melewski noted it’s been five years since the O’s had a longer season-opening hitting streak. Manny Machado hit in 16 straight to begin the 2016 season. The all-time O’s record hitting streak to begin a season is 17, by Davey Johnson in 1971. If Mullins gets these two today, that would be great for him. After that, who knows. First he’s got to keep it going through today.
Cole Sulser has been brought up as the 27th player on the roster for the doubleheader.
In the originally posted lineup for Wednesday, Trey Mancini was getting the day off, probably as a mental reset after his early season struggles. However, he’s in the game 1 lineup for the O’s. Here’s how the two teams line up for the first game:
Orioles
- Cedric Mullins - CF
- Anthony Santander - DH
- Maikel Franco - 3B
- Trey Mancini - 1B
- Pedro Severino - C
- Ryan Mountcastle - LF
- Ramón Urías - 2B
- Freddy Galvis - SS
- Ryan McKenna - RF
Matt Harvey starts the first game of the doubleheader for the O’s. He’s gone no farther than five innings over his first two Orioles starts. When the game is limited to seven innings, that’s less for the bullpen to have to cover.
Mariners
- Mitch Haniger - RF
- Ty France - DH
- Kyle Seager - 3B
- Jose Marmolejos - 1B
- Luis Torrens - C
- Taylor Trammell - CF
- Dylan Moore - 2B
- J.P. Crawford - SS
- Sam Haggerty - LF
Marco Gonzales and his 10.45 ERA take the mound for Seattle. It would be fun if the O’s can keep that ERA so inflated, but the reality is Gonzales is probably due for some better performance. Gonzales has already allowed five home runs in 10.2 innings. The Orioles entire infield is in need of a breakout at the plate. So, you know, maybe he’s their guy.
Bruce Zimmermann and Justin Dunn await as game 2 starters, which will begin about 45 minutes after the first game concludes.
Today marks the celebration across MLB of Jackie Robinson Day, the day that he broke baseball’s color barrier with his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. All players will be wearing his number 42 across both of the games as part of that annual celebration.