Tampa Bay at Seattle
Thursday, June 2nd, 10:10 PM
(matchup)
The pitching matchup should be great and runs should be at a premium when the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners meet Thursday night. This is the first game of a four game series between the teams, both of whom enter off a loss. It’s James Shields vs. Felix Hernandez with the betting line in favor of the latter (-120) and a total of just 6.5 runs.
MLB picks are available on this matchup at the picks page.
Shields has been spectacular this season on the road for the Rays, who have won all five of his starts away from Tropicana Field. The righty has posted a 1.88 ERA in those games, including a complete game, three-hit shutout of Florida in his previous road start. However, over his last three outings overall, Shields has lost twice, including to the Indians last time out as he allowed three runs over seven innings. One can hardly blame Shields for the sub-par stretch though, considering he’s struck out 30 batters over 23 innings and posted a 2.35 ERA. Unfortunately, the Tampa Bay offense has provided him with only seven runs of support.
The good news if you are picking Seattle here is that the Mariners are perfect 6-0 at home vs. the Rays when Hernandez starts (1.41 ERA). Keep in mind though that he did not face Tampa Bay at all last season when Seattle lost seven of nine head to head with the Rays. King Felix has watched his team win four of his five home starts this season overall.
A good
baseball pick in this game might be the Under considering the pitching matchup and the way both teams are hitting. Tampa Bay hit just .204 in its previous series vs. Texas, dropping two of three. Seattle was even worse at the plate in its most recent series vs. Baltimore, hitting only .188 and scoring eight runs total, but they managed to take two of three games. Seattle is 10-1 Under the last two seasons at home when Hernandez starts and the total is 6 or 6.5.
The Seattle pitching staff has been spectacular of late, in particular the bullpen, which has compiled a 0.88 ERA over the last 16 games, 12 of those being Mariners victories.
Seattle has been involved in 23 games decided by one run or less this season, so be weary of run line selections. Eight of their last 16 games have been decided by one run, six of those being wins. Every game in the Baltimore series was decided by one run. For the season, the club is 13-10 in one run games. To play Hernandez on the run line here, you have to lay -130 at the betting window.
There’s an interesting stat to consider here as Hernandez and Shields are tied for the American League lead in strikeouts at 81.
This is the start of an 11-game road trip for Tampa Bay, their first of two such ventures this season. The Rays have dropped five of six away from home and eight of 12 overall.
