Toronto Blue Jays at Seattle Mariners Betting Preview
Saturday night will feature an American League battle of east versus west as the Toronto Blue Jays (45-40) take on the Seattle Mariners (43-42). The Mariners will host this one at T-Mobile Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 10:10 pm ET.
It may have taken 11 innings, but the Seattle Mariners were finally able to put away the Blue Jays 5-2 on an Eugenio Suarez walk-off home run. With the walk-off win, Seattle has taken the first two games of the series.
George Kirby gave up two runs on ten hits in 4.1 innings to Toronto, but the bullpen was fantastic for Seattle behind him. In fact, they only gave up two hits and two walks over 6.2 innings of work.
For Toronto, they were able to produce 12 hits, including three from Lourdes Gurriel Jr., but their biggest issue was that they left 31 runners stranded on base.
Russ Stripling did well in the start, giving up just two runs on seven hits in five innings. The bullpen was able to shut it down until Sergio Romo gave up three runs in the 11th inning to lose the game.
The Blue Jays are slight favorites despite playing on the road Saturday. They are -124 to win while the Mariners’ moneyline sits at +106. The runline features Seattle +1.5 (-184), and the over/under for total runs is seven.
Toronto Looks To Stay In Thick Of Postseason Race
It is crazy to think that a team with a 45-40 record could already be 16.5 games out of first place in their division, but that is the spot the Blue Jays find themselves. Still, as they would have a Wild Card spot if the season ended today, the Blue Jays continue to fight with the postseason as their goal.
Taking the mound for the Blue Jays on Saturday is the 24-year-old phenom Alek Manoah. In 16 games this season, the righty is 9-3 with a 2.33 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, and he has 90 strikeouts in 100.1 innings.
Manoah currently has the seventh-best odds of winning the AL Cy Young at +1900. He did pick up a loss in his last start after giving up four earned runs to the A’s in just 5.2 innings of work.
George Springer continues to have a nice season out of the leadoff spot for the Blue Jays. In 278 at bats, Springer is hitting .248/.332/.471 with 15 home runs, 38 runs batted in, and a team-leading 47 runs scored and eight stolen bases.
Springer has also had success against the Mariners’ Robbie Ray in his career. In 12 career at bats, Springer is hitting .417 with a home run and three runs batted in.
Raimel Tapia, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Matt Chapman have also taken the southpaw deep in their careers.
Seattle Trying To Make A Run In The AL West
Mariners come into this one, having won six in a row and nine of their last 10. Despite their success, they still find themselves 13 games back of the Astros in the AL West. Trying to cut into the deficit, they will look to extend their winning streak on Saturday.
On the mound for the Mariners, Saturday will be reigning Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray. In 17 games this season, Ray is 7-6 with a 3.62 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and has 117 strikeouts in just 104.1 innings.
In his last three games, Ray has given up just two runs in a combined 19.2 innings. In that span, he allowed nine hits while striking out 26.
Offensively, Julio Rodriguez has taken the league by storm. The rookie outfielder is hitting .278/.337/.486 with a team-leading 15 home runs, 50 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases. He also has 43 runs batted in to date.
Rodriguez is currently the favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year award at -280.
The only Mariners’ hitter to have squared off with Alek Manoah is newcomer Carlos Santana, who is one for four against him in his career.
Take Mariners On The Runline
This one comes down to the pitching. While both of these starters have been strong this season, Robbie Ray has just been on a different level over his last several starts.
Combine Ray’s success with the current slump that the Blue Jays are in, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Mariners win this one outright.
At the very least, in a game where runs may be at a premium, taking the Mariners at +1.5 (-184) might be the best play.
