Oakland A’s (55-42) at Seattle Mariners (51-45), 7/22/21
When: 10:10 pm ET Thursday, July 22
Where: T-Mobile Park
MLB Betting odds: Oak -140/Sea +130
Over/under: 7.5
The A’s figured to make a run toward a playoff spot this season, but the Mariners are also hanging in the hunt, heading into this four-game AL West series in Seattle starting Thursday night. Righty Chris Flexen, having a break-out season for the Mariners, hits the hill here for the home team against lefty Sean Manaea for the visitors. How are we playing this game with today’s free baseball pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Thursday’s baseball betting lines opened Oakland at around -135 over Seattle, with an over/under of eight runs. Early betting action then bumped the A’s about a nickel to -140.
Oakland could also be found getting around +120, giving the run and a half on the run line.
A’s-Mariners MLB Betting Preview
Oakland just swept two games from the Angels earlier this week, winning 4-1 Monday and 6-0 Tuesday. The A’s then enjoyed Wednesday off.
Just before that, Oakland dropped two of three games to Cleveland. So the A’s are 3-2 since the All-Star break.
Seattle, meanwhile, just split two games at Colorado, winning Tuesday 6-4 but losing Wednesday 6-3. Just before that, the Mariners took two of three from the Angels. So Seattle is also 3-2 since the All-Star break.
At 55-42 and 51-45 overall, respectively, Oakland and the Mariners trail first-place Houston by three and 6.5 games in the AL West. The A’s also own the second American League wild-card spot at the moment, 3.5 games clear of third-place Seattle.
These two teams have split six meetings so far this season, each team winning a series on the other’s home field.
Thursday’s Pitching Match-Up
This pitching match-up is a rematch of a game played back on June 2 in Seattle, a 6-0 Oakland victory.
Flexen, by our strict standards, is 7/17 on quality starts this season and four for his last five. Most recently, 12 days ago, he held the Angels scoreless on three hits through seven innings of a 2-0 Mariners win. And over his last five starts, he’s allowed just five runs and 22 hits through 32 2/3 innings, with seven walks against 27 strikeouts.
The Mariners are a solid 13-4 with Flexen this season, 5-1 over his last six starts.
In his only career start against the A’s, back on June 2, Flexen gave up five runs and seven hits through six innings and took the loss.
Lefty Manaea is 8/19 on quality starts this year but 0 for his last three. Last Friday, he gave up three runs and seven hits through 5 1/3 innings of a 5-4 Oakland win over Cleveland. But over his last three starts, he’s allowed 11 runs – 10 earned – and 20 hits, including five home runs, through 17 innings, with one walk against 19 whiffs.
The A’s are 12-7 with Manaea this season but only 1-4 over his last five starts.
In his only start this season against Seattle, back on June 2, Manaea tossed nine innings of four-hit, shutout ball, earning the victory.
Splits With the Sticks
Oakland is batting .231 against right-handed pitching this season, with a .311 team OBP and a .406 team slugging percentage.
Seattle is slashing .220/.286/.393 against left-handed pitching this season.
The Bullpens
The A’s bullpen owns a 3.86 ERA this season, along with a 1.26 WHIP and a 2.31 K/BB ratio.
The Mariners pen owns a 4.10 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and a 2.90 K/BB ratio.
MLB Betting Trends
- The A’s are 25-18 on the road this season.
- The Mariners are 29-20 at home this season.
- The A’s are 32-29 against right-handed starters this season.
- The Mariners are 20-14 against left-handed starters this season.
Totals Report
Unders are 51-44 in A’s games this season.
Overs are 49-44 in Mariners games this season.
Unders are 27-20 in games played at T-Mobile Park this season.
