The Seattle Mariners have won seven of their last eight games, scoring 53 runs in the process. They’re 11-6 on the season and 22-9 dating back to mid-September. And they have completely owned the Tampa Bay Rays in recent years, winning 21 of the last 28 meetings (including seven of the last eight).
So of course when Mariners vs Rays odds hit the betting board ahead of Wednesday’s clash in Tampa Bay, the Mariners were installed as … underdogs?
We know what you’re thinking — because we were thinking the same thing: Nope, the Rays don’t have the superior starting pitcher on the mound Wednesday (at least not statistically). They also don’t have the reigning co-American League Player of the Week in their dugout (Seattle does).
Are bookmakers continuing to undersell the Mariners? Or is this an old-fashioned betting trap? Props.com breaks down Mariners vs Rays odds and ends in our preview of Wednesday’s top American League matchup.
Odds via WynnBet and updated as of 5:40 p.m. ET on April 27.
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Seattle Mariners (11-6) vs Tampa Bay Rays (9-8)
First Pitch/TV: 6:40 p.m. ET/MLB.TV
Moneyline: Rays -137/Mariners +127
Run Line: Rays -1.5 (+145)/Mariners +1.5 (-175)
Total: 7.5 (-110)
Pitching matchup: LHP Marco Gonzales (1-1, 3.29 ERA, 1.39 WHIP) vs Drew Rasmussen (0-1, 5.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP)
Season series: Seattle leads 1-0. The Mariners are 21-7 in the last 28 meetings and 17-6 in the last 23 games played in Tampa.
Did you know: Mariners 1B Ty France leads MLB in RBI (21) and is tied for first in hits (25). He also ranks in the top six in batting average (.368, 3rd); home runs (5, T-6th); and OPS (1.075, 6th).
About the Mariners
Hits & Misses: Seattle opened up an 8-0 lead though 7.5 innings Tuesday night and held on for an 8-4 victory as a +120 underdog. The Mariners are now riding a four-game winning streak, and they enter Wednesday as the fifth-most profitable team in MLB from a wagering perspective. Among AL clubs, only Toronto has delivered more cash to bettors. Going back to April 14, the Mariners are 9-2 and have scored at least five runs in eight of those contests. Seattle is 4-4 on the road and 4-4 as an underdog.
On the Mound: Gonzales has surrendered 13 runs in his last three starts, but only five have been earned. In Thursday’s outing at home against Texas, the southpaw got touched up for six runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings. He yielded six hits, one walk and struck out six in an 8-6 loss, Seattle’s only defeat in its last eight games. Gonzales has given up two earned runs or fewer in six straight starts and seven of the last eight. He’s also allowed two runs or fewer in five of his six career starts against the Rays. In those outings, Gonzales is 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA, and the Mariners are 5-1.
Key injuries: RP Paul Sewald and RF Mitch Haniger remain on the COVID list and are out indefinitely.
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About the Rays
Hits & Misses: Tampa Bay started the season 3-1 but has since dropped seven of 12 contests overall and four of six at home. The team is now underwater from a betting perspective, ranking 18th among MLB’s 30 teams. Prior to Tuesday’s defeat, the Rays had held eight of nine opponents to four runs or fewer. Offensively, Tampa is led by SS Wander Franco and 1B Ji-Man Choi. Franco is batting .338 and leads the team in hits (23), home runs (four), RBI (12) and runs (13). While Franco ranks in the top 10 in MLB in hits (T-4th) and runs (T-6th), Choi slots eighth in batting average (.357) and fifth in OPS (1.086).
On the Mound: Rasmussen lasted just three innings last Wednesday against the Cubs in Chicago, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four. The Rays cruised to an 8-2 victory, but they’ve alternated wins and losses in Rasmussen’s last seven starts dating back to mid-September. In his three starts this season, the 26-year-old right-hander has allowed seven runs in 12 innings of work, posting a 9-3 K/BB ratio. Rasmussen has appeared in just one game against the Mariners, yielding a hit in 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.
Key injuries: C Mike Zunino left Tuesday’s game with a biceps injury and is questionable Wednesday. The Rays are also without C Francisco Mejia, who is on the COVID list.
Notable Trends
- SEA is 19-8 in its last 27 road games
- SEA is 11-5 in its last 16 as an underdog
- TB is 52-23 in its last 74 home games (6-5 this season)
- TB is 1-5 in its last six vs. AL West teams
- Over for SEA is on runs of 6-2 overall and 6-0 vs. AL East teams
- Over for TB is on runs of 4-1-1 against southpaw starters and 4-1 vs. AL West teams
- Over is 7-2 in the last nine Mariners-Rays battles
Mariners Vs Rays Odds and Action
UPDATE 5:40 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: An hour before first pitch at Tropicana Field, the Rays had dipped a bit to -137 at WynnBet, with Seattle +127 on the take-back. WynnBet initially opened the moneyline at Rays -125/Mariners +115 late Tuesday, then stretched out to Rays -145/Mariners +134 by 8 a.m. ET today. The line has been on a decline since, bottoming out at Rays -133/Mariners +124 before settling at the current number 30 minutes ago. There’s two-way action on the side, with 59% of wagers on Tampa Bay and 68% of the cash on visiting Seattle.
The total has held firm at the opening number of 7.5, although the juice has shifted from Over -105/Under -115 to 7.5 flat (-110 both ways). Ticket count (65%) and money (69%) are shaded to the Over.
UPDATE 12:15 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Tampa Bay opened as a -133 favorite this morning at BetMGM, then moved to -145 roughly a half-hour ago. The total opened and remains at 7.5, with a minor juice adjustment from Under -115 to -110 both ways.
Check back prior to first pitch for additional Mariners vs Rays odds and action updates.