The struggling Seattle Mariners (12-13) host the Tampa Bay Rays (15-10) for the opener of a 4-game series at T-Mobile Park Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Rays vs. Mariners odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Tampa Bay is coming off a 3-game road sweep of the Oakland Athletics and is 6-2 overall in its last 8 games. Seattle has lost 7 of its last 8, including getting swept in 3 at the Houston Astros Monday through Wednesday.
Season series: Tampa Bay leads 2-1 but were outscored 11-9.
Rays at Mariners projected starters
LHP Shane McClanahan vs. LHP Robbie Ray
McClanahan (1-2, 3.00 ERA) lost at home to the Minnesota Twins 9-1 Saturday, surrendering 3 ER in 5 IP on 4 H, 2 HR and 2 BB with 11 K. He has a 2.80 FIP, 1.00 WHIP and an MLB-best 14.0 K/9 in 27 IP over 5 starts.
- 2021 vs. Mariners: One start – a no-decision, 6-2 extra-inning, Rays road loss in mid-June – 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 8 K.
Ray (2-2, 4.15 ERA) took a 3-1 loss at the Miami Marlins Saturday. He went 5 IP with 3 ER on 4 H, 4 BB and 8 K. He has a 4.38 FIP, 1.25 WHIP and 7.7 K/9 in 30 1/3 IP over 5 starts.
- 2021 vs. Rays: 2-2 with a 2.33 ERA (38 2/3 IP, 10 ER), 6 HR, 0.85 WHIP and 11.9 K/9 across 6 starts while pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays.
- vs. Rays on the current roster: 3.81 FIP with a .203 expected batting average, .276 expected wOBA, .361 expected slugging percentage, 29.9 K% and 90.9 mph exit velocity in 157 plate appearances.
Rays at Mariners odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:11 p.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Rays -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Mariners +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays -1.5 (+133) | Mariners +1.5 (-165)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -130 | U: +105)
Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10 or more, get $200 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Let’s make this interesting. Bet now!
Rays at Mariners picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 5, Mariners 2
Money line
GIMME the RAYS (-135).
They’ve been steamed up from a -110 opener by sharp-line movement (per VegasInsider.com) and they are better in the three most important phases: Starting and relief pitching and hitting.
The Rays’ hitting ranks ahead of the Mariners vs. left-handed pitching in wOBA (.328-.321) and wRC+ (125-119), according to FanGraphs.
Also, Tampa Bay’s bullpen ranks 5th in FIP (3.27), 6th in WAR (1.3) and 3rd in hard-hit rate (34.3%). Seattle’s bullpen is 22nd in FIP (3.72), 21st in WAR (0.4) and 10th in hard-hit rate (37.6%).
Finally, McClanahan has Cy Young-caliber stuff and is coming off a subpar performance by his standards, whereas Ray has struggled to match his 2021 AL Cy Young-winning form.
BET RAYS (-135).
Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! Use the couple code SBW22 for 20% OFF full-season subscription. New customer offer; expires 6/30/2022. Subscribe today and start winning!
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
The Rays’ -1.5 (+133) price isn’t a fat enough payout since I’m high on the Mariners for the season and Seattle has its ace on the mound with a lineup that ranks really well in advanced hitting categories.
Over/Under
PASS.
Both lineups are very good, but the Under has cashed in 4 of the past 5 Rays-Mariners meetings and the weather forecast is predicting double-digit mph winds blowing in from left-center field.
Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]