Rays-Mariners Lines Preview

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Seattle Mariners will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at Safeco Field.

The Rays will trot Jeff Niemann out to the mound in this one. Righthander Niemann has a 10-5 record and a 3.48 ERA this season.

It’ll be Felix Hernandez toeing the rubber for the Mariners in this contest. Righthander Hernandez is 12-4 with a 2.78 ERA so far this season.

Oddsmakers currently have the Mariners listed as 135-moneyline favorites versus the Rays, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.

The Rays completed a two-game sweep of the Red Sox 6-4 on Wednesday, as -150 favorites. That game’s 10 runs made it OVER the posted over/under (9.5).

Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford belted two-run homers to the way. David Price pitched six innings for the win, and J.P. Howell closed out the game with his 12^th save.

The Mariners were defeated 8-2 by the Royals last time out, as a -110 pick’em. That game’s 10 runs made it OVER the posted over/under (9.5).

Adrian Beltre went 4-for-4 at the plate with a run scored, and Jason Vargas allowed nine hits and eight runs over seven innings in the loss.

Current streak:
Tampa Bay has won 3 straight games.

Team records:
Tampa Bay: 60-48 SU
Seattle: 56-52 SU

Tampa Bay most recently:
When playing on Friday are 3-7
Before playing Seattle are 4-6
After playing Boston are 5-5
After a win are 5-5

Seattle most recently:
When playing on Friday are 3-7
Before playing Tampa Bay are 4-6
After playing Kansas City are 3-7
After a loss are 6-4

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Tampa Bay’s last 9 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Tampa Bay’s last 18 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Tampa Bay’s last 9 games when playing Seattle
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle’s last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Seattle’s last 9 games when playing Tampa Bay
Seattle is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
Seattle is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay

Next up:
Seattle home to Tampa Bay, Saturday, August 8