The Texas Rangers (66-88) and Seattle Mariners (84-70) meet Thursday at 9:40 p.m. ET to put a lid on a 3-game AL West series at T-Mobile Park.
Season series: Seattle leads 13-5
Earlier this year across multiple series Texas lost 9 in a row to Seattle. The division rivals have split the first 2 games of this series. The Rangers are 1-4 over their last 5 games and 8-21 across their last 29.
Seattle is just 4-8 in its last 12 games. The Mariners snapped a string of having allowed 5 or more runs in 5 straight games with their 3-1 win Wednesday.
Rangers at Mariners projected starters
RHP Jon Gray vs. LHP Marco Gonzales
Gray (7-7 3.64 ERA) has authored a 1.11 WHIP 2.8 BB/9 and 9.7 K/9 through 116 1/3 IP across 22 starts.
- ERA and WHIP figures represent career bests
- Has a history of dropping off late in the season (.819 OPS allowed in September/October in his career) but has filed a 2.08 ERA through 13 IP across 3 starts this Sept.
Gonzales (10-15 4.05 ERA) has logged a 1.33 WHIP 2.5 BB/9 and 4.9 K/9 through 171 IP and 30 starts.
- Owns a 3.67 ERA over his last 7 outings
- Has logged a 5.16 ERA across 5 starts against Texas this season
Rangers at Mariners odds
- Money line: Rangers +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Mariners -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers +1.5 (-220) | Mariners -1.5 (+175)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: +110 | U: -135)
Rangers at Mariners picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 5 Mariners 4
Money line
The Mariners have just fallen flat of late. Gray has been on a nice roll since returning from an oblique injury Sept. 11 and he may well be cranked up to 90 pitches or so in this spot.
TAKE TEXAS (+100).
Over/Under
With some fade lean on both bullpens and on Marco Gonzales and with a Texas club at its best against southpaws (.755 OPS) take the OVER 7.5 (+110).
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Run line/Against the spread
This RL tag is fair but with these offenses more of a discount would be key to playing the visiting Rangers with some moderate confidence.
PASS but back Texas +1.5 if the price reaches -200 or better.
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