Jason Storm
Free Pick Newsletter Lead Researcher
100-57-1 Overall Record

 Seattle Mariners (+135) vs Boston Red Sox (-145)  Over–Under 9

Seattle has lost 14 games in a row. This is their their longest losing streak in franchise history, yet before this streak started this team was surpassing all expectations. They were once above .500 at 43-42. So what happened?

The Mariners lack of offense finally caught up to them. During this 14 game losing streak, the Mariners have scored 3 runs or less in 10 of those games! They are barely averaging 2 runs a game over this streak. They been outscored 32-75, meaning they have lost by an average of 3 runs a game!  Bottom line: This team just needs to score more runs. Today they catch a break and get to face a knuckle ball pitcher. Knuckball pitchers are different from all others. Even if you aren’t hitting the ball well as a team, doesn’t mean you can’t put up some runs on a knuckball pitcher. It’s a different experience. It’s a different skill, one that Seattle has. This will work out in Seattle’s favor today.

 

I fully expect Wakefield to struggle this afternoon. His ERA is 4.80 on the season, and nearly 6 in his last 3 games. He is not performing well lately because he is giving up a ton of base hits. In fact, hitters are hitting over .500 against him in those his last 3 games. It’s surprising his ERA isn’t higher. Wakefield knuckball isn’t getting movement which means the ball is coming in slowly and hitter are just teeing off. Even if the Mariners offense has been anemic, they will get a their opportunity to put up some runs today against a struggling knuckleballer.

There are a couple Mariners hitters that should be licking their chops at this chance. A bunch of these hitters hit Wakefield well and for power. Miguel Olivo is 4 for 15 with a Home Run against Wakefield. Adam Kennedy is 7 for 29 with a homerun. And Jake Cust is 12 for 26 which is a .462 batting average with 5 RBIs all against Wakefield. And given Wakefields continuous struggles, I expect Seattle to be able to produce a big inning or two against the Red Sox starters.

Boston hitters will have it much more difficult today. Michael Pineda is the real deal and the Mariners starter. At 6’7 he is towering on the mound. Even more impressive is the fact that he holds hitters to a batting average of .200 this season. No one is hitting this guy. His ERA was around 2.50 for most of the season but after giving up 12 runs in back to back games, his ERA inflated to 3.28, which still is a solid number. Still my favorite thing about this match up tonight is the fact that NONE of the Red Sox hitter have ever seen Pineda before. This lack of experience against a pitcher means these Boston hitters will be forced to take a lot of pitches meaning they will be behind in the count. Pineda can be this teams ace, and I expect him to step up and end this losing streak.

It’s unfortunate the the Mariners set their longest streak ever this season because this team has talent. They have the pitching to be special if they could get any run support. However, today they will put up enough runs to get the win.

Pick: Mariners +135 Listed Pitchers