The Oakland Athletics (3-3) and Seattle Mariners (3-4) kick off a four-game wraparound series Friday at T-Mobile Park at 9:40 p.m. ET. We analyze the Athletics-Mariners MLB betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Athletics at Mariners: Projected starting pitchers
LHP Sean Manaea vs. RHP Taijuan Walker
Manaea looks to bounce back after an ugly showing in his first start of the season against the Los Angeles Angels last Saturday. The southpaw allowed four earned runs, five hits and a homer with three strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings in a loss.
- The A’s offense backed Manaea with no run support in the 4-1 loss, as their lone run did not come until the seventh inning when he was well out of the game.
- Manaea was hitting the strike zone frequently in his first start, tossing 40 of his 55 pitches for strikes, including first-pitch strikes to 17 of the 19 batters he faced.
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Walker was also bounced around in his first outing, coughing up five earned runs, seven hits and a homer with one walk and just one strikeout across 3 1/3 innings in a loss at Houston Saturday.
- Walker managed to hit the strike zone just 38 times on 67 pitches in the loss against the ‘Stros, and he also hit a batter.
- Walker ended up with first-pitch strikes to just eight of the 17 batters he faced in his atrocious outing in Houston.
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Athletics at Mariners: Key injuries
(List of injuries around the league)
Athletics
- SP A.J. Puk (shoulder) is on the 10-day injured list due to a strained left shoulder and there is no timetable for his return.
Mariners
- OF Mitch Haniger (hernia) remains out indefinitely as he recovers from sports hernia surgery, as well as a microdiscectomy to remove an intervertebral disc from his back.
- C Austin Nola (knee) missed the past two games, but he is expected to be ready to return Friday.
Athletics at Mariners: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 4:45 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Athletics 6, Mariners 3
Moneyline (ML)
The ATHLETICS (-182) are heavy favorites for the Mariners’ 2020 home opener, and for good reason, too. They have won five of the past seven meetings with the Mariners (+165), and Oakland hasn’t done much to get worse and Seattle hasn’t done a lot to get better.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The ATHLETICS (-1.5, -121) are a better value on the run line, but remember, they have to win by at least two runs. That might not be a problem against Walker, who was terrible in his initial outing of the season. Also consider the Athletics (-0.5, -125) on the 5-inning run-line spread for some extra fun.
Over/Under (O/U)
I’ll be 100 percent honest. As I write these columns, I go section by section, top to bottom. I made my score prediction first, then do the total last. BetMGM has the O/U total runs at 9 (with both sides at -110), or EXACTLY what I am looking for in this particular game. As such, I have no real lean one way or the other. AVOID. You could go with an alternate line, going Over 7.5 (-167), for example, or Over 8.5 (-129), but it isn’t recommended. You’ll need help from Seattle’s offense, and it simply cannot be trusted.
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