The Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics meet Thursday in MLB action from O.co Coliseum. This will be the final installment in a three-game series. The Mariners took a six-run win in the Tuesday opener. In game two, Seattle kept it going with another dominant victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Seattle posted five runs in the seventh inning in the Tuesday opener, cruising to an 8-2 win. In the Wednesday game two, the Mariners scored five in the fifth inning alone during a 9-0 blowout win. George Kirby put up 6.0 shutout frames in the start with five hits and a walk.

For the starter job in the Thursday finale, the Mariners are sending out Robbie Ray. Over his 14 starts this year Ray is 6-6 with a 4.25 ERA. In 84.2 innings he has 40 earned on 72 hits and 29 walks with 91 Ks. 

Over on the A’s side, they had seven hits (and gave up 12) in the Tuesday defeat. On Wednesday in game two, Oakland gave up 13 hits in the loss. Starter Paul Blackburn put up seven earned in 4.0 innings on 10 hits and two walks.

Frankie Montas will get the call on Thursday for the start. Across his 14 starts this year Montas is 3-7 with a 3.53 ERA. Over 81.2 innings Montas has 32 earned on 73 hits and 20 walks alongside 84 Ks. 

The Mariners are 1-5 in their last six Thursday games and the under is 11-5 in their last 16 versus the AL West. The over is 9-3 in Seattle’s last 12 road games versus a right-handed starter.
Meanwhile, the A’s are 12-4 in their last 16 Thursday games and 16-40 in their last 56 at home. The A’s are 7-20 in their last 27 versus the AL West. 

PICK: I’m probably staying with Seattle. Ray has posted very nice starts in consecutive outings. Over a combined 14.0 innings, he’s got just one earned on six hits and two walks. As for Montas, he’s been spotty over his last pair. Montas has 11.0 innings in those two with eight earned on 18 hits and four walks. The Mariners should be able to get plenty of runners on base during this game; if they can cash in at the plate Seattle should be fine.