Mariners Look to Extend AL West Lead Against A’s
Mariners vs Athletics Betting Odds Show Value in Under
Looking to build on their recent success, the Seattle Mariners open a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday (9:40 p.m. ET) at Oakland Coliseum. The American League West rivals met last month in Seattle, with the Mariners taking two of three games thanks to a combined 17-13 edge in scoring.
Seattle is -1.5 (+105) on the run line and -162 on the moneyline for the opener, with Oakland +1.5 (-125) and +136. Meanwhile, the projected total is 8, with a slight edge to the Under at -112 odds.
The Mariners are also -220 favorites to win the series, compared to +190 for the Athletics.
Who has the edge? Read on as we break down both teams and assess the Mariners vs Athletics betting odds in our MLB series preview.
Day/Time:
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn
Streaming: MNMT
Mariners vs Athletics Betting Trends
The Seattle Mariners are 30-31 against the run line, including 5-3 over their last eight games. The Mariners have far less profitable for Over/Under bettors, going 23-35-3. Only three clubs have gone under the total at a higher rate: Atlanta (61.8%), Houston (62.1%) and Texas (62.1%).
The Oakland Athletics, meanwhile, are 29-32 against the run line. Like Seattle, they’re 5-3 over their last eight games. As for the Over/Under, Oakland is 28-30-3.
That’s important to when analyzing the Mariners vs Athletics betting odds.
Going 7-3 over their last 10 games, the Mariners have opened a 4.5-game lead atop the American League West at 34-27. They’ve been particularly strong at home, posting a 21-11 mark.
Projected for 87.5 wins, third-most in the division, the Mariners are on pace to sur expectations. As such, the Mariners have taken over as -180 favorites to win the West and are +650 to win the AL. Only two teams have shorter odds: New York (+235) and Baltimore (+400).
Can the Mariners sustain their success? Their run differential (plus-7) offers room for skepticism. At the same time, the Mariners, buoyed by strong starting pitching, have the depth to withstand injuries and stay competitive over the course of a 162-game season on the MLB scoreboard.
The Mariners rank sixth in ERA (3.47) and lead the Major Leagues with 37 quality starts, two more than the National League-leading Phillies. Four Mariners have made at least six quality starts, led by Luis Castillo. The three-time All-Star is 5-6 with a 2.99 ERA, establishing himself among the favorites for AL Cy Young with +1200 odds. Logan Gilbert (+2500) and George Kirby (+3000) give the Mariners three pitchers at 30/1 or better.
The Mariners allowed only 14 runs over their recent seven-game homestand against the Astros and Angels, during which they went 6-1. They swept three games from the last-place Angels over the weekend, outscoring them 19-5.
Not Their A-Game
Another summer fire sale seems imminent for the Athletics. Losers of six of their last nine games, the Athletics sit fourth in the AL West at 24-37. Their .393 winning percentage is third lowest in the AL ahead of only Los Angeles (.367) and Chicago (.250). They’ve been outscored by 64 runs, second-most in the league.
Oakland’s struggles are hardly surprising. On the heels of a 50-112 season, their second in a row with 100-plus losses, the Athletics were projected for a Major League-low 57.5 wins.
The Athletics may sur that total, but it still won’t mean much. They’re almost certainly going to miss the MLB playoff bracket for the fourth straight season, even with the expanded wild card. They began Tuesday as +2500 longshots to qualify.
Because of that, the Athletics look destined to be sellers at the July 30 trade deadline. Several veterans could be shipped to contending teams, further jeopardizing their chances of winning over the season’s final two months.
The bullpen is Oakland’s biggest strength, with flamethrowing righty Mason Miller standing apart as the most imposing arm. Miller has converted 11 of his 12 save opportunities while ing a 2.08 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 26 innings.
The Athletics went 2-4 on their recent six-game homestand against the Rays and Braves, averaging only 3.8 runs per contest.
Series Probables
Game 1
Tuesday, 9:40 p.m. ET
George Kirby vs Mitch Spence
Kirby is 4-5 with a 4.08 ERA. He ranks 17th in MLB with a 1.02 WHIP, keyed by an outstanding 10.8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He went at least six innings in five of his six May starts, finishing the month with an ERA of 4.00.
The Athletics will counter with Spence. A converted reliever, Spence has a 3.52 ERA across 14 appearances (three starts). He threw 5.1 shutout innings in his last outing, a 3-0 win over Tampa Bay on May 28.
Keep that in mind when assessing the Mariners vs Athletics betting odds.
Game 2
Wednesday, 9:40 p.m. ET
Logan Gilbert vs Joey Estes
Gilbert is 3-3 with a 3.29 ERA. He’s gone at least six frames in 10 of his 12 starts and ranks seventh in MLB in innings pitched (76.2). His nine quality starts are tied for second-most behind four pitchers.
He will face Estes, a 22-year-old right-hander with an ERA of 6.10. Estes bounced back in his last start, limiting Tampa Bay to one run over five innings in a 4-3 loss on May 29.
Game 3
Thursday, 3:37 p.m. ET
Bryan Woo vs JP Sears
Woo owns a 1.30 ERA in five starts since returning from the injured list May 10 with right elbow inflammation. He threw six shutout innings in his last appearance, a 5-4 win over the Angels on May 31.
Sears, meanwhile, is 4-4 with a 4.01 ERA. The left-hander went a season-high seven innings in his last start, a 4-2 loss to Atlanta on May 31. He finished May with a 3.41 ERA.
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