Seattle Mariners (62-54) vs. Los Angeles Angels (51-64)
The Seattle Mariners will be looking to solidify their wildcard position in the American League when they take on the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. This is the second contest of a three-game set between the clubs. These teams played on Monday, but this preview was written prior to the conclusion of that contest.
Seattle enters as the favorite at -175 with the line set for Los Angeles to +145. When giving up 1.5 runs, the odds for the Mariners change to +100 while the Angels are at -120 when receiving 1.5 runs. The total is set at 7.5 (over: -115, under: -105). Entering the series, Seattle was 5-7 against the Angels this season.
Entering July, many were already kicking dirt on the Mariners. However, a 14-game winning streak has changed their outlook, and they have kept things going since the All-Star break, moving them into the second wildcard spot in the American League. Seattle is only 11-12 since the break, but are 7-6 in August.
Luis Castillo, 98mph ?? pic.twitter.com/CL84ygTPDK
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 16, 2022
The pitching staff has been the backbone of this Mariners club, as they are fifth in team ERA at 3.94. However, the staff has not been as formidable since the break, posting a 4.34 ERA. Left-hander Rob Ray will get the start on Tuesday, and he struggled coming out of the break, giving up 10 earned runs in his first 5.2 innings. However, the lefty has turned things around in August, allowing three earned runs in 13.1 innings pitched, including two to the New York Yankees on August 10.
That is good news, as the Mariners are not going to knock teams off with their run production. The club is 23rd in runs per game (4.06) and those numbers have not gotten better in August, as they have scored 51 runs and 13 games. The club has hit 16 homeruns this month, but a .212 batting average is not helping the run p roduction.