Our in-house MLB expert, Billy J (+0.29 units), gives his best bet for today!
Back to the American League West we go! It’s been a little tough stretch this week where we are now in the red due to several one-run losses this week. The focus is always on the road ahead. At a quick glance here you’re probably thinking… what a cop out. He’s going to roll with the Mariners money line for a high unit play to offset the juice and get back to even YTD. Wrong! That is a sloppy approach. Even worse, the potential of “panicking” and taking the Mariners run line.
Wow I’m pretty over the place today. Let’s reel it back in. Sometimes facts are facts and the fact remains that the Oakland A’s still have the worst record in the majors. Their last series trip at the Yankees couldn’t have been any more demoralizing. In the first game of the series, they got out to a 5-1 lead only to squander it away by the 7th inning. The second game of the series Frankie Montas gutted out six innings with seven strikeouts, but it was not enough to get past the Yankees spot starter in JP Sears. And in the series finale, the A’s jumped out to a 3-0 lead and before you can blink, the big boppers in the Yankees lineup in Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton erased that lead by the third inning. Not exactly how the A’s drew it up to fly almost 3,000 miles across the country to face their next opponent in the Seattle Mariners.
How can it get worse for the A’s? On the mound today for the Mariners will be their ace Logan Gilbert (8-3, 2.44 ERA). Gilbert is coming off back-to-back starts against the Angels in which he split both of his decisions. Surprisingly, Gilbert has not faced the A’s this season. Against the rest of the division, Gilbert is 4-1 with a 2.17 ERA and 32 strikeouts. In facing his division opponents, Gilbert has only let up home runs to Angels batters. Two of which were to some guys named Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani.
Potentially up to the task today for the A’s against Gilbert will be right-hander Adrian Martinez (1-0, 0.00 ERA). Martinez had one start this year as it was a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers on May 10th. Martinez was up to the task then in his first career start and went 5 1/3 innings and not giving up any earned runs. The A’s are looking for Martinez to deliver that magic again tonight. However, Martinez’ 5.63 ERA in Triple-A is a cause for concern. In his last start in Triple-A, Martinez was tagged for seven hits and five earned runs while also allowing three walks in just 4 1/3 innings.
It’s not the most ideal play to go with the home team run line, but I will go against what many bettors tell you as one of the first rules in betting baseball. I’ll back the Mariners ace here against an A’s team who has yet to face him this year.
The Pick: Mariners -1.5 BetRivers -103 for 1 unit