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On a day filled with multiple divisional matchups, the Texas Rangers travel to the Emerald City to face off with the Seattle Mariners. It is time once again to take a dive into our MLB odds series, where our Rangers-Mariners prediction and pick will be made.
With one of the worst records so far in all of baseball, the Rangers enter this one fresh off a devastating five-game losing streak and are currently 2-9. Needing to change something quickly, Texas will put their faith in lefty Taylor Hearn, who has given up four earned runs in 7 2/3 innings pitched.
The 7-5 Mariners will look forward to continuing their momentum in a potential sweep, as Seattle has won five of their last six overall matchups. LHP Marco Gonzales will get the nod, as the southpaw kept the Astros in check with seven innings pitched and only one run allowed.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Rangers-Mariners MLB odds:
MLB Odds: Rangers-Mariners Odds
Texas Rangers: +1.5 (-182)
Seattle Mariners: -1.5 (+150)
Over: 8 (-105)
Under: 8 (-115)
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Why The Rangers Could Cover the Spread
Disaster has officially struck the city of Arlington, as the Rangers have gotten off to the worst possible start imaginable. Alright, maybe not the worst, and if there is a silver lining, at least Texas isn't 0-11 right? That is all the Rangers can really do at the moment; find the few positives to take away under a whole lot of negatives.
After starting a below-average 2-9 in 2022, the Rangers' recent five-game skid has seen them get outscored 34-15 over that stretch thanks to horrifying pitching. Texas twirlers have been lit up more than the number of candles on a birthday cake, as their dreadful 6.09 ERA is dead-last in the MLB by a considerable margin.
They are also one of a handful amount of teams scattered across the country that has failed to produce a quality start from their staff. Although a shortened Spring Training may have a slight factor in clubs' starters not pitching as far into games to begin the season, there is no excuse for the Rangers' catastrophic results on the mound so far.
To make matters worse, the Rangers have lost seven straight to the Mariners and 18 of their last 20 in Seattle.
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Yes, this is supposed to be how the Rangers could cover the spread and not why they're going to get blown out, so let's get into that. The one reason that the Rangers are staying afloat has been the offense. With the worst pitching statistics in the league, the Rangers are above-average when it comes to their hitting.
Texas currently ranks out as the twelfth best team in 53 runs scored and in their team batting average at .235. Give credit where credit is due, as first baseman Nathaniel Lowe leads the team in hits with 16 of them, resulting in a .372 batting average. It's scary hours in the Lone Star State, but it is still way early, and the Rangers are definitely capable of starting the turnaround with a spread covering win in Seattle.
Why The Mariners Could Cover the Spread
After a COVID outbreak that saw manager Scott Servais have to be sidelined, first-base coach Kristopher Negron was left with the managerial duties in a 4-2 victory over the Rangers on Wednesday in his managing debut. The worldwide illness definitely did not slow down the Mariners, as they have been trending directly opposite from what the Rangers are going through.
Despite the added adversity, Seattle has been taking care of business thanks to elite pitching with a 2.86 ERA and six quality outings from starting pitching. Not to mention, the Mariners are only allowing the opposition to hit .209, good for the seventh-best mark in the majors.
Looking to add on to the party is Gonzales himself, who appears to be shaking off the off-season rust after his last outing saw him whiff six Astros in a 11-1 victory. While Texas seems one-dimensional with hitting seemingly the only thing kind of going right for them, it will be vital to pitch well if the Mariners want to continue to their dominance over the Rangers.
Offensively, Seattle has been efficient enough to stymie Texas pitching, scoring ten runs in the previous two matchups combined. Not necessarily great production, but the pitching has been so stellar that the bats do not need to be perfect. Going up against Rangers pitcher Hearns, Seattle could be due for a breakout performance at the dish. Hearns is 0-3 with a 6.20 ERA in 12 appearances (three starts) in 24 2/3 innings.
The Mariners are also 8-4 ATS thus far and should improve to 9-4 if they can do the little things right in avoiding a massive letdown.
Final Rangers-Mariners Prediction & Pick
While the oddsmakers like the Rangers to at least cover at -182, the value of picking Seattle to cover the -1.5 at +150 is too tempting to pass up, especially with the Mariners getting the best of the Rangers most of the time in recent memory.
Final Rangers-Mariners Prediction & Pick: Mariners -1.5 (+150)
