Orioles-Mariners notes as the series begins (Gausman debuts)

Some notes about the Orioles and Mariners as the two teams get ready to begin a three-game series tonight at Camden Yards: * The Orioles are six games over .500 on the season, but against American League West teams, they are six games under .500, going 8-14. They are 2-1 against Seattle, 3-3 vs. Oakland, 1-3 against Texas and 2-7 vs. Los Angeles. The Orioles are 4-8 at home against the AL West. * In the Tampa Bay series, the Orioles allowed just two runs in three games with a team ERA of 0.67 and a starters ERA of 0.92. The Orioles take a scoreless streak of 21 innings into this series vs. the Mariners. * The Orioles are 41-7 this year when they get a quality start and 25-2 when their starters pitches seven or more innings. * Seattle is playing well with eight wins over its last 10 games and 14 in the last 20. The Mariners are 15-7 since the All-Star break. They are 11-19 against the AL East and 40-40 vs. everyone else. * Chris Davis is hitting .342 (13-for-38) during a nine-game batting streak with three homers and 12 RBIs. J.J. Hardy is batting .306 (15-for-49) over a 13-game stretch with two homers and nine RBIs. Nick Markakis is batting .340 (34-for-100) since the All-Star break. Omar Quintanilla is 1-for-14 since he went 12-for-26 during a seven-game hitting streak. * Seattle starting pitchers are 11-3 with a 2.06 ERA and 14 quality starts over their last 17 games. Tonight's starter, Jason Vargas, has allowed just one earned run in 21 innings over his last three starts against the Orioles, dating to 2009. Vargas was the AL Pitcher of the Month for July when he led the league with an ERA of 1.64. Gausman's debut: Orioles first-round pick, pitcher Kevin Gausman, made his pro debut tonight. He pitched three scoreless innings with two strikeouts, retiring all nine batters he faced for Aberdeen at State College. He threw 31 pitches, 23 for strikes. Gausman is expected to pitch every sixth day, going three innings each, the rest of the season for Aberdeen which would make Sunday his next outing and home debut.