Tampa Bay Rays (43-27) vs. Seattle Mariners (35-36)
June 19, 2021 10:10 pm EDT
The Line: Seattle Mariners +115 / Tampa Bay Rays -125; Over/Under: +8
(Get latest betting odds)
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Seattle Mariners meet Saturday in MLB action from T-Mobile Park. This will be the third installment in a four-game series between these teams over the weekend. The Mariners eked out a one-run win Thursday, then in the Friday game Seattle kept it going with a four-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Tampa Bay had a 5-2 lead going into the bottom of the sixth on Thursday but ultimately lost 6-5 in a tough one. In game two Friday, the Rays gave up four in the first inning and never recovered. Michael Wacha gave up 11 hits with five earned in 3.2 innings.
For the starter job in the Saturday game, Tampa will send out Josh Fleming. In his 56.1 innings this year, Fleming has 45 hits, 20 earned runs, six homers allowed, 13 walks, 33 Ks and a 3.20 ERA overall.
Over on the Mariners’ side, they powered out two runs in the bottom of the ninth Thursday to walk off the win. On Friday, Seattle got off to a fast start and registered 13 hits during the win. Yusei Kikuchi went 7.0 innings with four hits and one earned.
For the Saturday game, the Mariners will send Logan Gilbert to the mound. Over his 28.1 innings this year, Gilbert has 24 hits, 13 earned runs, three homers allowed, eight walks, 29 Ks and a 4.13 ERA.
The Rays are 25-9 in their last 34 Saturday games and 22-9 in their last 31 road games. Tampa is 38-18 in their last 56 in game three of a series and 84-41 in their last 125 versus a right-handed starter.
Meanwhile, the Mariners are 4-1 in their last five home games versus a lefty starter and 2-5 in their last seven Saturday games. Seattle is 1-4 in their last five in game three of a series and the over is 4-0 in their last four in game three of a series.
PICK: I’m going to go with the Rays here, but I like both starters to do well. Gilbert has just two earned runs over his last two starts in 11.2 innings. He’s coming off one earned in 6.2 frames versus the Indians. As for Fleming, he had some issues in spots against the Rangers but bounced back with a hitless 4.0-inning opener performance in his last start. This one should be a lower-scoring game, and I like Tampa to eke it out.
