Happy Cinco de Mayo! We’re celebrating with a pair of great MLB picks for you to choose from. Make sure you’re following us on Twitter @365scores!
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Seattle Mariners
It is a battle of teams headed in the opposite direction when the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. This is the first of a four-game series between these teams. Tampa Bay earned their second straight victory on Tuesday when they defeated the Oakland Athletics, 10-7. They face Oakland on Wednesday, but this preview was written prior to the conclusion of that contest. Seattle lost their second straight game on Tuesday when they were shut out for the second straight time by Houston, losing 4-0. The Mariners were battling the Astros on Wednesday, but this preview was written prior to the conclusion of that contest.
Tampa Bay enters this contest as a slight favorite at -115 with the money line set for Seattle at -105. The total is set at 7.0 (over: +110, under: -130). Tampa Bay took two of the three games between these teams the last time they met (April 26-28). However, the Mariners are 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
Rays Rally to Down Athletics
The Rays found themselves trailing 5-1 after the first inning on Tuesday, but scored two runs in the second and two in the ninth to send this game to extra innings where they produced five runs in the 10th inning to earn a 10-7 victory. The hitting for this Tampa Bay club has been outstanding early on, as they are sixth with a .247 batting average and are averaging 4.50 runs per game, 10th overall. The Rays are scratching out runs, third in baseball in stolen bases (16) and they have a .318 on-base percentage, tied for ninth.
Mike Zunino was the hero in the victory over Oakland, hitting a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning and adding an RBI single in the top of the 10th. Zunino had entered the game hitting just barely above .100, but delivered his best performance of this early season. Wander Franco leads the club with four homers and 14 RBI and has a .315 batting average.
Shane McClanahan will get the start for Tampa Bay. The left-hander is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA in five starts. He allowed three runs in five innings in his last start (April 30), but struck out 11 in the game. McClanahan has a 1.00 WHIP. He has not gone more than seven innings in a game this season, so the bullpen will see some action and the Rays have a good one. Tampa Bay is sixth with a bullpen ERA of 2.87 and they have pitched the most innings this season at 119.1, posting a 1.04 WHIP.
Seattle managed just four hits as they were shut out by Houston for the second straight night. The Mariners produced just nine hits through the first two games of the series, surprising considering the team is 13th in runs per game (4.39) and 11th in OPS (.701). Seattle is tied for 11th in home runs with 24.
Left-hander Robbie Ray will try to turn around the fortunes of the Mariners. The lefty is 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in five starts, posting a 1.25 WHIP in 30.1 innings pitched. He was quite dominant in his first start of the season, allowing one run in 7.0 innings pitched, but has allowed 13 runs over his last 23.1 innings.
Ray went five innings in his last start, so the Mariners bullpen will play a big part in the outcome of this contest. Seattle also has a solid bullpen, eighth in ERA at 3.08 and they have a .213 opponent batting average and a 1.13 WHIP. The team will need Ty France to have a big series. The first baseman is hitting .337 with five homers and 21 RBI. C.P.
Best Bets
It would seem that Tampa Bay has the clear edge in this game as their starter has performed better overall this year. However, his numbers are not dominant, as McClanahan has allowed 10 runs in his last 22.2 innings. They are solid numbers, but not dominant. Plus, he has only made one start on the road this season, giving up two runs in six innings against the Chicago Cubs.
Ray has pitched very well at home, allowing four runs in 12.0 innings. He has given up just 11 baserunners in those 12 innings while striking out nine and feels very comfortable in his own park. That should enable Seattle to squeak out a late victory in this contest, as those bats will warm up with a little home cooking. After all, Seattle has the second-best batting average at home this season (.276).
Prediction: Take the Seattle Mariners (-105)
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Cleveland Guardians
A pair of American League teams open up a series on the shores of Lake Erie looking to pick up a victory. The Toronto Blue Jays are on the road as they open a four-game series with the Cleveland Guardians Thursday evening. Toronto closed out a three-game series with the Yankees Wednesday night hoping to avoid a sweep. The Blue Jays were knocked off 9-1 in the middle game of the set Tuesday night. Cleveland played a doubleheader Wednesday at home against San Diego to make up for Tuesday’s rainout. They lost the opener 5-4 Wednesday afternoon.
Toronto Blue Jays Hoping to Get Back in Win Column
Toronto dropped the first two games of their series with the Yankees as they were drubbed soundly in the middle game of the set Tuesday night. The Blue Jays entered Wednesday night tied for second with Tampa Bay in the AL East race, 3.5 games behind the Yankees for the division lead. Against New York, Toronto led 1-0 after five innings and was even at one after six frames before a six-run seventh for the visitors blew the game open. The Blue Jays got two hits each from Alejandro Kirk (run), Bo Bichette (RBI) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. yet took the loss. Alek Manoah threw six innings, allowing one run on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts, yet didn’t factor in the decision. Adam Cimber (4-1) took the loss in relief, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits with no walks and one strikeout in one-third of an inning.
Jose Berrios is in line to make his sixth start of the season for the Blue Jays in this contest. He comes in 2-0 with a 4.13 ERA, a 1.583 WHIP, nine walks and 20 strikeouts over 24 innings of work this season. Berrios earned the win in his last start, which came against the Astros at home Saturday. He threw 5.2 innings, allowing one run on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts in a 2-1 Toronto victory. In his last three starts, Berrios is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, four walks and 15 strikeouts over 18.2 innings of work. Berrios makes his 16th career start against the Guardians in this contest. He comes in 5-3 with a 3.72 ERA, a 1.087 WHIP, 29 walks and 82 strikeouts over 84.2 innings of work. Berrios is 3-0 with a 3.83 ERA, a 1.175 WHIP, 16 walks and 35 strikeouts over 40 innings of action in seven career starts at Progressive Field.
Cleveland saw their three-game win streak snapped in the opening game of their doubleheader with the Padres Wednesday afternoon. The Guardians went into the nightcap tied for second in the AL Central, 4.5 games behind the Twins for the top spot in the division. Against San Diego, Cleveland finished with seven hits with Josh Naylor (two RBI) and the lone player with two. Amed Rosario and Steven Kwan drove in the other runs for the Guardians in a losing effort. Zach Plesac (1-3) took the loss on the mound as he threw five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
Aaron Civale is on the mound for the Guardians as he makes his fifth start of the season in this contest. He comes in 0-2 with a 10.67 ERA, a 1.953 WHIP, six walks and 14 strikeouts over 14.1 innings of work this season. Civale didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came on the road against the A’s Friday night. He threw four innings, allowing six runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts in a game the Guardians eventually dropped 9-8. In his last three starts, Civale is 0-2 with a 12.27 ERA, a 1.91 WHIP, three walks and 11 strikeouts over 11 innings of work. Civale lost his lone career start against the Blue Jays, which came at home in the first game of a doubleheader on May 30, 2021. He threw six innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits with one walk and one strikeout in a game the Guardians lost 4-1. Civale is 9-9 with a 4.47 ERA, a 1.289 WHIP, 33 walks and 113 strikeouts over 118.2 innings in 21 career starts at Progressive Field.
Best Bets
Both teams have had their struggles at times this season. Toronto has been battered by the Yankees in the first two games of their set that comes to a close Wednesday night. Cleveland has yet to get the kind of production they would expect from their pitching staff at this point in time. The Guardians have been hot and cold at the plate as well, which is a big reason that they are a sub-.500 team like the rest of the AL Central other than the division-leading Twins. Berrios is coming off a solid outing in his last start while Civale’s next good outing will be his first of 2022. Give the edge to the visiting Blue Jays as their lineup gets things done against a struggling Guardians’ starter.
Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays -150
