Mariners vs. White Sox Pick
Can the Seattle Mariners go on the road and hand the Chicago White Sox a loss when the two open their weekend series today at 8:10PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Seattle is the favorite on the road, as the Mariners are getting odds of -170 to win, while the White Sox are getting odds of +150 to prevail. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 9.5 runs. Chicago has won three of four meetings with the Sox this season.
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The pitching matchup tonight has James Paxton (7-3, 3.21 ERA) on the mound for the Mariners to face James Shields (2-1, 4.95) of the White Sox. Paxton has been solid for the Mariners this season. He entered the break allowing just three runs over his last 13.1 innings. On the year he has 91 strikeouts with 30 walks and a 1.18 WHIP. Shields has struggled, allowing six runs in two of his last three starts. He has 30 strikeouts with 19 walks over 36.1 innings this season. Shields has a WHIP of 1.46.
Seattle entered the break with a series split against Oakland, but the Mariners have lost five of their last seven. Seattle is now 43-47 overall and 16-25 on the road. Seattle is averaging 4.79 runs per game while allowing 4.83 per contest.
Chicago entered the break losing four of their last five games. The White Sox are now 38-49 overall and 19-18 at home. The White sox are putting up 4.56 runs per game this season while allowing 4.93 per contest. Chicago is being led by Avisail Garcia, who has 17 doubles, 11 home runs and 51 RBI. Jose Abreu is adding 23 doubles, 16 home runs and 58 RBI. Seattle is being led by Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano. Cruz has 17 doubles, 17 homers and 70 RBI while Cano has 14 doubles, 17 homers and 60 RBI.
I don’t feel great about Seattle being a big road favorite, but I do like what Paxton has done on the mound. He has been a reliable starter for the Mariners this year and I still feel as if Seattle has a run in them. They are starting to get some pitchers back and they have some capable hitters, they just haven’t put it all together yet. If it is going to happen, it will probably start this weekend in Chicago.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: SEATTLE MARINERS -170