Posted on
4/10/2008 12:40:45 PM
MLB Baseball Wagering – Seattle Mariners at Tampa Bay Rays
By Eric Williams
After getting off to a solid 3-1 start in their first four games, including two wins over the vaunted New York Yankees, the Tampa Bay Rays, (3-5) were looking like the team of future stars they claim they have.
However, the Rays have lost four consecutive games in the BetUS Sportsbook coming into tonight’s contest, including a dismal 7-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners, (4-5) on Wednesday, as the team has struggled mightily at the plate.
"We just have to, obviously, swing the bats better," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "The approach at the plate has got to improve. We have to work better at-bats, and that's going to happen."
Tampa Bay's top five hitters went a combined 1-for-18 in yesterday’s loss.
"In this game, success and failure is contagious," Rays designated hitter Jonny Gomes told the Rays' official Web site. "When you see your big dogs failing, it's kind of contagious a little bit.
While the Rays are struggling at the moment, the Seattle Mariners seem to have shaken off the problems that plagued them just prior to the start of this series after dropping four straight to the Baltimore Orioles.
"We left some runs out there, but I don't want to harp on the negative because it was a good game," Mariners manager John McLaren told the team's official Web site.
"It was nice to put some runs on the board and give ourselves a little bit of a breather there."
The Mariners will try to complete a three-game sweep of the Rays with starting pitcher Miguel Batista (0-1, 6.00 ERA) looking to bounce back from a poor outing in his first stat of the season last Saturday when he was touched up for five runs, four earned), in five innings of Seattle’s 6-4 loss to the Orioles.
Batista will square off against Rays starter Edwin Jackson, (1-0, 1.50), who limited the New York Yankees to one run on five hits in six innings of Tampa Bay’s 6-3 victory on Saturday.
"He's one of those guys, once he gets in the flow of the game he can be very tough," Maddon said of Jackson who is making his first career start against Seattle.
Here is a look at tonight’s key trends followed by my MLB Betting Picks:
Key Mariners Trends
The Mariners are 6-0 in their last six games as an underdog of +110 to +150.
The Mariners are 6-0 in their last six games as a road underdog of +110 to +150.
The Mariners are 5-1 in their last six during game three of a series.
Key Rays Trends
The Rays are 8-1 in their last nine games after losing the first two games of a series.
The Rays are 11-4 in their last 15 during game three of a series.
The Rays are 18-38 in their last 56 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Key Totals Trends
The Under is 5-0 in Mariners last five during game three of a series.
The Under is 5-1 in Mariners last six after scoring five runs or more in their previous game.
The Over is 5-1 in Mariners last six Thursday games.
The Under is 7-1 in Rays last eight during game three of a series.
The Over is 7-1 in Rays last eight home games vs. a team with a losing record.
The Under is 4-1 in Rays last five games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
Key Head-to-Head Trends
The Mariners are 4-1 in the last five meetings in Tampa Bay.
The Under is 23-6-1 in the last 30 meetings in Tampa Bay.
The Mariners are 14-6 in the last 20 meetings.
The Pitchers: Miguel Batista is 0-1 in one start and two relief appearances covering three strikeouts, four walks and an ERA of 6.00.
Edwin Jackson is 1-0 in one start with four strikeouts, two walks and a 1.50 ERA.
Analysis: While the Rays are playing pretty poorly at the moment, I like them to bounce back with a big win over the Mariners in this matchup, fueled by another strong start from Jackson.
MLB Free Picks: Tampa Bay 5 Seattle 4
12:45 PM EST MLB Odds
Seattle Mariners
Miguel Batista - R +1½ -160
Tampa Bay Rays
Edwin Jackson - R -1½ +140
Over 9½ -110
Under 9½ -110
American League
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