The Tampa Bay Rays (56-28) and the Seattle Mariners (38-41) will battle in the first of a three-game series Friday. The Mariners will host this one at T-Mobile Park with first pitch scheduled for 10:10 pm ET.
The Rays are the favorites in this one despite playing on the road. They are -144 to win, while the Mariners’ moneyline sits at +122. The runline features Seattle +1.5 (-146), and the over/under for total runs is 7.5.
Rays Look To Continue Dominance As They Travel West
At 56-28, the Tampa Bay Rays not only have the best record in the American League, but they have the best record in all of baseball. They will look to continue their dominance Friday as they travel west to take on Seattle. The Rays enter this one 22-18 when playing on the road.
Taking the mound for the Rays will be ace Shane McClanahan. In 16 games this season, the southpaw is 11-1 with a 2.23 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and he has 100 strikeouts in 93 innings. In his last three starts, he is 2-0 and has allowed six earned runs in 17.1 innings.
As a team, the Rays rank first in scoring defense, allowing opponents an average of just 3.75 runs per game. Offensively, they rank second, averaging 5.52 runs per game (5.13 on the road).
Leading the offense for Tampa Bay is outfielder Randy Arozarena. In 280 at bats, he is hitting .286/.401/.475 with 14 home runs, 54 runs batted in, and 49 runs scored.
Mariners Look To Shake Sluggish First Half
After making the playoffs last season, expectations were sky high for Seattle this season. The Mariners have not lived up to those expectations, though, as they sit in fourth in the AL West, 10 games behind the Texas Rangers.
Seattle will hope to shake their sluggish first half and win at home, where they are 22-19 thus far this season.
On the bump for the Mariners at home will be 24-year-old righty Bryce Miller. In 10 games, he is 5-3 with a 3.88 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and he has struck out 49 in 55.2 innings. In his last start, he went just 4.1 innings in a no-decision against the Orioles, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks.
The Mariners come into this one ranked 16th in scoring, averaging 4.47 runs per game. Seattle would love to get star outfielder Julio Rodriguez going. While he has not performed horribly, it has been a bit of a letdown after he roared on the scene last year. In 319 at bats, he is hitting .241/.307/.414 with 13 home runs and 42 runs batted in.
Take The Rays To Win On The Road
Looking at the trends, the Rays are 4-2 in their last six games and 5-1 in their last six games against the Mariners. In their last 20 games on the road in Seattle, though, they are just 6-14.
For Seattle, they are 1-4 in their last five games and 6-12 in their last 18 games against American League foes. In five of their last seven games, the OVER has hit for Seattle.
For as well as Bryce Miller has pitched this season, Shane McClanahan has pitched so well that he is the favorite to win the AL Cy Young award (+250). Don’t be surprised if his dominance continues Friday against the Mariners.
For that reason, take Tampa Bay to win straight up (-144).
