Tampa Bay Rays (43-26) vs. Seattle Mariners (34-35)
June 17, 2021 10:10 pm EDT
The Line: Seattle Mariners +157 / Tampa Bay Rays -171; Over/Under: +8
(Get latest betting odds)
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Seattle Mariners meet Thursday in MLB action from T-Mobile Park. The Rays are coming off a series versus the White Sox this week. After a split in the first two games, on Wednesday Tampa Bay fell in a tough extra-innings loss. As for Seattle, they played the Twins this week. The Mariners won the first two games in that set, then in the Wednesday finale Seattle couldn’t complete the sweep with a loss. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Tampa Bay managed a 5-2 win over the White Sox on Monday, but then fell in the Tuesday game 3-0. In the Wednesday rubber match, the Rays posted a nice comeback effort with seven runs in a four-inning span but ultimately fell in 10 innings 8-7.
For the starter job in the Thursday game, the Rays are going with Rich Hill. Over his 66.2 innings this year, Hill has 45 hits, 25 earned runs, eight homers allowed, 23 Ks, 68 strikeouts and a 3.38 ERA.
Over on the Mariners’ side, they did well versus the Twins this week with wins Monday 4-3 and Tuesday 10-0. In the Wednesday finale, Seattle gave up four runs in the fifth during a 7-2 loss. Starter Justus Sheffield put up 5.0 innings with seven earned on 10 hits.
In the starter role for the Thursday matchup, Seattle will send out Justin Dunn. Across his 48.1 innings this year, Dunn has 36 hits, 21 earned runs, six homers, 29 walks, 48 Ks and a 3.91 ERA.
The Rays are 5-0 in their last five Thursday games and 8-3 in their last 11 versus the AL West. Tampa is 19-7 in their last 26 versus a team with a winning record and 46-22 in their last 68 road games.
Meanwhile, the Mariners are 6-2 in their last eight Thursday games and 5-2 in the last seven in game one of a series. The under is 4-0 in the Mariners’ last four in game one of a series and 4-0 in the last four versus the AL East.
PICK: I’m sticking with the Rays. It’ll be interesting to see what Dunn can do as far as a bounce-back after his 3.0 innings and five earned on nine hits during his last outing. As for Hill, he ran into some late trouble in his last outing with 4.2 innings and four earned on four hits and three walks versus the Orioles. I like both guys to pitch better here in a lower-scoring game, and I like the Rays to eke out a late win. Should be a fun one to watch.
