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The Seattle Mariners (79-61) play the 2nd game of a 4-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays (85-56) on Friday at Tropicana Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Mariners vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Mariners lead 3-1
The Mariners shut out the Rays 1-0 in the series opener on Thursday, giving them 2 consecutive wins. Seattle is 5-5 in its last 10 games, is 1/2 a game behind the Houston Astros for 1st place in the AL West and is in the 2nd AL Wild Card.
The only players to get a hit for the Rays in Thursday’s loss were 2B Brandon Lowe, OF Josh Lowe, OF Luke Raley and 2B Jonathan Aranda. Tampa Bay is 4 games behind the Baltimore Orioles atop the AL East and is currently holding the top Wild Card spot in the AL.
Mariners at Rays projected starters
RHP George Kirby vs. RHP Taj Bradley
Kirby (10-9, 3.39 ERA) makes his 27th start. He has a 1.05 WHIP, 0.8 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 through 159 1/3 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 K in a 6-3 road loss vs. New York Mets Sunday
- 2023 road stats: 4-6, 3.86 ERA (84 IP, 36 ER) in 14 starts
- Career vs. Rays: 1-0, 1.38 ERA (13 IP, 2 ER) in 2 starts
Bradley (5-7, 5.42 ERA) makes his 18th start. He has a 1.42 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9 and 12.0 K/9 through 79 2/3 IP.
- Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 5 BB, 7 K in a 6-2 road vs. Cleveland Guardians Sunday
- 2023 home stats: 3-3, 5.88 ERA (33 2/3 IP, 22 ER) in 7 starts
- One career start vs. Mariners: No-decision, 3 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 7-6 road loss on July 2
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Mariners at Rays odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:13 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Mariners -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Rays -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Mariners -1.5 (+145) | Rays +1.5 (-185)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Mariners at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Mariners 4, Rays 3
Moneyline
With Kirby on the mound for Seattle, I’ll back the MARINERS (-115) on the road in Friday’s matchup. Seattle has won 3 straight against the Cubs.
Run line/Against the spread
While the Rays should keep this game within 2 runs, I’ll PASS on the run line in this contest. Both of the last 2 meetings between these teams has been decided by 1 run.
Over/Under
UNDER 8 (-115) is the lean in this game as Kirby should limit the Rays and Bradley could have a decent number of strikeouts against the Mariners. Kirby’s ability to avoid walking batters should prevent Tampa Bay from having an abundance of base runners Friday.
The Rays are 4-5-1 to the Over in their last 10 games overall and the Rays are 5-5 to the Over in their last 10 games.
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