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Happy Tuesday everyone! In the first game of a new series, the Seattle Mariners travel to Guaranteed Rate Field to square off with the Chicago White Sox. It is time to take a look at our MLB odds series, where our Mariners-White Sox prediction and pick will be made.
In their first series of the newly acquainted 2022 season, the Seattle Mariners split their introductory matchups with the Minnesota Twins, going 2-2 in games that were very competitive for the most part. During the 2021 season, Seattle narrowly missed out on a playoff spot, compiling a record of 90-72 in a merciless American League and finishing only two games out of the final wild card slot.
After getting shutout 4-0 on Sunday, the Mariners will send out their minor league pitcher of the year Matt Brash, who calculated a 2.30 ERA in his 20 outings at the Class-A and Double-A level.
The White Sox enter play after winning two of three in their opening series, as Chicago tore the cover off the ball by exploding for 19 runs in a trio of games at Comerica Park.
The White Sox will give the ball to a familiar league face in Vince Velasquez, who has pitched seven seasons in the majors including a 4.95 career ERA over that span.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Mariners-White Sox MLB odds:
MLB odds: Mariners-White Sox Odds
Seattle Mariners: +1.5 (-178)
Chicago White Sox: -1.5 (+146)
Over: 9 (-110)
Under: 9 (-110)
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Why the Mariners Could Cover the Spread
With a surplus of young talent at numerous positions, there is a reason for excitement in the confines of the Emerald City. After compiling a playoff-worthy record a season ago that would usually be enough to get a team over the hump, Seattle is starved to bring their fans a taste of the postseason that hasn't existed in nearly twenty years. There is no doubt a buzz surrounding the city, and a triumphant victory to open their second series of the young season would do wonders for the team morale moving forward, especially fresh off a two-game losing streak.
If the Mariners are going to cover the spread against a very talented White Sox bunch, they will need more production out of their offensive lineup. Through four games, Seattle is only hitting .177, has scored a total of 10 runs, and is ranked 27th out of 30 teams in slugging percentage at .292. Obviously, there are many more than 150 games yet to be played, but this is a trend that needs to be reserved if the Mariners want to have a chance to even sniff the type of success that they endured in 2021.
Pitching wise has seen themselves as a middle-of-the-pack squad that is 15th in ERA thus far with a 3.71 mark. All eyes will be on one of the top pitching prospects in the entire organization in Matt Brash, who has been described by his peers as a young leader who is eager to learn and help his team win ballgames.
Brash has quite the impressive arsenal working for him, as the 23-year-old Canadian hurler has a lively fastball that averaged out at 96.4 MPH last season. Brash's 13.1 K/9 rate at the minor league level was higher than any qualified starting pitcher in the majors during 2021. Brash will be a huge reason for Seattle's success in covering if he is on his A-game early and often.
Why the White Sox Could Cover the Spread
Speaking of epic optimism, the south sider White Sox have taken the city by storm, especially with the Cubs coming back to a state of mediocrity. Chicago has started off hot at both the plate and on the mound, swatting balls a long way and keeping opposing hitters off-balanced with some stellar pitching.
At first glance, the Sox should have the advantage in the majority of statistical categories on Tuesday, outside of the fact that Velasquez surely saw his fair share of struggles last season with a 6.30 ERA. Chicago definitely got off on the right foot in their first series of the year versus the Tigers, as they simply dominated Detroit in the concluding two matchups by outscoring them 15-3.
The White Sox currently have the fourth-best mark in opposing batting average at .185 while punishing teams with a .468 slugging percentage at the plate, good for the third-best number in all of baseball.
Not to mention, few teams came into Chicago's south side with victorious aspirations, as the White Sox were 53-28 in their home ballpark in 2021.
Final Mariners-White Sox Prediction & Pick
If the young and glamorous Brash is all that baseball is setting him out to be, then this folk tale of a matchup may be etched in the Mariner history books for quite some time. Even though Velasquez is the savvy veteran in this one, expect Seattle's bats to wake up in a big way in providing run support to their hopeful future ace. Seattle makes a statement and steals one out on the road!
Final Mariners-White Sox Pick: Mariners +1.5 (-178)
