By David Selig The Baltimore Sun

11:30 a.m. EDT, September 19, 2012

[Down the stretch is a daily Orioles Insider blog that will set up the coming night for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason continues.]


About last night

Orioles beat Mariners, 4-2, in 18-inning marathon
Duquette says O's have what it takes to win AL East
Thome and Patton expected to be back Friday
Schmuck: Machado deserves a shot at Rookie of the Year
Tuesday's full scoreboard


AL East Standings

BAL       84-64     --
NYY       83-63     --
TB         78-70      6

AL Wild-Card Standings

OAK       84-63      --
BAL        83-64        --
LAA        81-67      3
DET        78-69     5.5
TB          78-70     6



Tonight’s game

Orioles at Mariners. 10:10 p.m.

LHP Joe Saunders (8-12, 4.24 ERA) vs. RHP Felix Hernandez (13-8, 2.92 ERA)


Key matchup

This would be an odd matchup to work in the Orioles' favor, but Endy Chavez is 6-for-10 in his career against King Felix. The Orioles' other top hitters against Hernandez are Nick Markakis, Jim Thome and Brian Roberts -- but I'm guessing none of them are going to get a hit tonight.


Other games that matter


Blue Jays (Alvarez) at Yankees (Pettitte), 1:05 p.m.

Blue Jays (Romero) at Yankees (Phelps), 7:05 p.m.

Athletics (Anderson) at Tigers (Verlander), 7:05 p.m.

Red Sox (Matsuzaka) at Rays (Archer), 7:10 p.m.

White Sox (Sale) at Royals (Chen), 8:10 p.m.

Rangers (Holland) at Angels (Wilson), 10:05 p.m.

 

Thought of the day


Preparing for the first-ever one-game wild-card playoff will involve some roster decisions for the teams involved, but the managers in that situation will apparently have some flexability.

Teams – which are allowed to carry 40 players in September – must get down to a normal 25-man roster for the wild-card playoff.

But they’ll be allowed to set a new 25-man roster should they advance to the division series.